One of the explanations for poor voter- turnout statistics in our state is that people are turned off by politics. Candidate lists are filled with careerists, people who cannot find legitimate work elsewhere or hapless souls who simply like the attention.

There may be some truth to that, but the picture actually is much better than one might expect.

Example No. 1 is the race for the 2nd Congressional District seat being vacated by Ed Case.

This is a first-class campaign, with a full list of first-class people.

A glimpse of the options was on stage Thursday night during a live television forum at the Hawai'i Theatre, sponsored by KGMB 9 and this newspaper.

Aside from the specifics of the answers the candidates provided to a series of tailored questions, viewers also were able to measure the confidence, poise and demeanor of the folks who want to speak for us in Washington.

Several thoughts emerge from that event:

First, these candidates are prepared. They know their business, and they know why they are running. There is no false modesty here; rather there is sincere conviction that the particular skill set each brings is what Hawai'i needs in Congress.

The second thought is the remarkable level of civility these candidates show to each other and to the campaign. There were plenty of opportunities for sniping or criticism, but you just didn't hear it.

Make no mistake. There is plenty of ego here. But one also senses a genuine level of respect among the candidates.

Part of it may be that they recognize fellow sufferers on the endless campaign trail. That's foxhole bonding.

Another part is that most of the Democratic candidates will have to continue working with each other next year in the state Senate, where five of the Democrats will return if they are not successful in this adventure.

(In fact, there is a cynical joke going around. If for some reason there is an open seat for Congress two years from now, there will be an equally impressive and full slate of candidates. Only this time it will be the other half of the Senate that is not up for his or her own reelection.)

But the bottom line is that this campaign offers an abundance of riches. There are no major policy differences between the two Republicans, nor is there much substantive difference among the 10 Democrats.

(There also is a nonpartisan, Robert Wilcox IV, in the race.)

The decisive question for most voters, then, will not be specific stands on such matters as the war in Iraq, tax cuts or federal education policy. Rather, it will be on style, effectiveness, raw smarts and the ability to speak for Hawai'i on a national stage.

On those grounds, this will be a tough race to decide.

Reach Jerry Burris at jburris@honoluluadvertiser.com. Read his daily blog at blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.