Vaitinasa Says Outcome May Have Been Different If Not for Gubernatorial Race

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First timer in the congressional race, Vaitinasa Dr. Salu Hunkin Finau, feels that the contest for American Samoa’s seat in the US House of Representatives played second fiddle to the gubernatorial race.

She said it was difficult to form committees in villages because those regarded as strong and influential members were already active in the gubernatorial campaigns.

She said the interest of people was also trained on the race for governor and lt governor and it was not easy trying to engage them.

At a press conference yesterday, Vaitinasa said she was surprised with the results of the congressional election and expected to do better.

The former Director of Education garnered only 1, 581 votes compared to incumbent Congresswoman Aumua Amata who polled 8,923 to win a second term.

Vaitinasa, who made a run for governor in 2012, shared what she experienced on the congressional campaign trail.

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Vaitinasa is of the opinion that things may have turned out different if voters only had to deal with the congressional race and not the gubernatorial election as well.

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