Djou holds a slight 3-point lead in Obama's old Hawaii home district

Conservative Charles Djou and family

Republican Rep. Charles Djou holds a slight 3-point lead over Democrat Colleen Hanabusa in Obama's old Hawaii home district, but the 3-point lead is within the margin of error of the poll. It must really steam Democrats in Hawaii to have a Republican representing the district where Barack Obama spent much of his childhood.

According to a new Star-Advertiser/Hawaii News Now poll, Djou holds a slight 3-point edge over Democrat Colleen Hanabusa, but it is within the margin of error -- a statistical tie.

In a telephone poll of 399 very likely voters in the 1st Congressional District, representing urban Honolulu, Djou was favored by 48 percent, compared with 45 percent for Hanabusa.

Six percent said they were undecided or refused to answer; 1 percent said they would choose someone else.

Congressman Calls For Jones Act Repeal So Foreign Ships Can Help With Gulf Cleanup

The Jones act prohibits ships from carrying goods between US ports unless they are owned and crewed by US Citizens. This is hampering foreign assistance with the oil spill clean up.

The Washington Examiner reported:

U.S. Rep. Charles Djou is calling on President Barack Obama to waive a 90-year-old law so foreign ships can help respond to the huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The statute, known as the Jones Act, requires vessels transporting goods between states to have been built in the United States, be crewed and owned by U.S. citizens, and fly the U.S. flag.

Djou says it has blocked vessels from Mexico, Canada and Belgium from assisting in the cleanup.

A Republican, Djou opposes the statute because he contends it results in higher prices for Hawaii consumers.

Team Obama has only accepted help from 5 of the 28 countries that offered.