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Posted: Friday, October 5th, 2012 9:10 AM HST

Lingle says Inouye trying to pick next U.S. Senator

By Ken Hupp - 67AM KPUA News

Former Governor Linda Lingle says U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye thinks he should be able to pick Hawai`i's next U.S. senator. The Republican hopeful says in a video promoted by her campaign that Inouye, a Democrat, is denying well-documented history between them and personally attacking her in her race against Congresswoman Mazie Hirono for the seat of retiring U.S. senator Daniel Akaka. “Senator Inouye believes he should be the one to determine who steps down and who steps up in Hawai`i politics,” Lingle said. “He seems to believe that he should be the one who picks our next United States Senator. But with all due respect to the senior senator, I believe that decision is up to you. The people of Hawai`i.” Tensions surfaced last month when Lingle’s campaign aired a video showing her and Inouye side by side in making the case that she’s a bipartisan leader who would not be a rubber stamp for Republicans. Inouye called it misleading.