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Posted: Thursday, June 18th, 2009 4:39 AM HST

State GOP asked to stop supporting Aiona campaign

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — The campaign manager of a Republican candidate for governor next year is charging that the state GOP is breaking its own rules by supporting his rival, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona. Eric Ryan, who is heading longtime Honolulu lawyer John Carroll's campaign, is asking that flyers, signs and other materials indicating sole support for Aiona be removed. In a letter to the state GOP, Ryan also says Aiona's finance director should not be allowed to use office space at party headquarters, even though Aiona's campaign pays for it. A state party rule says "no party committee" can endorse a candidate in contested GOP primaries. Party leaders in 2007 invoked a National Republican Committee rule in order to assist Aiona. Carroll announced his campaign last month. (Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved)