ASSOCIATED PRESS ON THE COVER: Sen. John McCain gave the Manheim, Pa., high school football team a pep talk during practice Aug. 12. Rep. Tom Platts is also pictured.

The Republican candidate has friends here, and his dad and grandfather were stationed in the islands

A contingent of 37 Hawaii Republicans is in Minnesota this week, expressing confidence in their candidate’s ability to lead the country while acknowledging his uphill battle to win their home state.

In any other election, Sen. John McCain’s ties to the islands would be considered strong for a presidential contender. He met his wife, Cindy, here; both his father and grandfather were stationed in Hawaii; he has visited several times and has many friends in the islands.

But those connections are overshadowed by the Hawaii ties of his opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, who was born in Honolulu and spent much of his childhood here. With two months before the election, the Illinois Democrat is considered a heavy favorite to win Hawaii’s four Electoral College votes.

“It is going to be difficult to overcome,” said Republican state Sen. Sam Slom, who is not attending the convention.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, who spoke Aug. 18 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention in Orlando, Fla., has strong military ties.

Nonetheless, McCain’s Hawaii supporters continue to emphasize their candidate’s extensive experience in Congress. Particularly important for Hawaii residents, they say, are his strong ties to the military and his good working relationship with fellow Republican Gov. Linda Lingle.

“I know if we have a tragedy or a crisis, especially a military one … he would definitely be the first person there for us,” said state Rep. Kymberly Pine, a co-chairwoman of McCain’s Hawaii campaign.

Lingle, who is leading Hawaii’s GOP delegation this week and will address the convention Tuesday, echoed this confidence in the party’s candidate.

“He’s an American hero — everyone knows that — but he truly does put the country first and that, I think, is important and something not always done by people,” she said.

DID YOU KNOW …

FILM FAVES: McCain’s movie favorites include “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,” “Casablanca,” and “Viva Zapata!” He and wife Cindy have seen “Mamma Mia!” twice.