Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle: supporting President Obama's plan?

President Obama and former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle during happier times. 2009 White House courtesy photo.

The Democratic Party of Hawaii is blasting the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for what it calls putting big business special interests over the truth in its support of GOP candidate for US Senator Linda Lingle in the TV commercial it’s airing in Hawaii.

The chamber made a two-week television advertising buy backing former Gov. Lingle for U.S. Senate, touting Lingle as a bipartisan leader who can help increase tourism. The chamber would not immediately disclose how much it invested in the ads, but sources told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that it is roughly $100,000.

The Democratic Party criticized the chamber's TV ad because it states that Lingle supports "President Obama’s plan.”

“This is typical Linda Lingle, she did not support Obama when it didn’t fit into her own personal campaign, but now she’s a supporter because it looks good for her,” said party spokesman Chuck Freedman in a statement.

“These Republican special interests from Washington DC are just wrong about Linda Lingle’s record,” said Freedman. “The fact is that Lingle criticized President Obama’s economic plan."

Lingle is the front-runner for the GOP nomination the Senate seat being vacated by the retirement of Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka. Leading the Democratic field are former U.S. Rep. Ed Case and U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, both of Hawaii's District 2.