Gov. Linda Lingle made a pragmatic choice in tapping veteran Republican moderate Cynthia Thielen to carry the party banner in the general election race for U.S. Senate, considering that the state's minority party has very few leaders it can afford to risk on a contest with such difficult odds.

The fact that the most Republican votes in the primary went to candidate Jerry Coffee, who already had withdrawn from the race, gave the governor a rare opportunity to appoint the party's contender instead.

If the GOP had been further along in its efforts to build a larger presence in Hawai'i, there might have been an up-and-comer the party could have offered up, someone willing to give up their own re-election to vie with veteran Democrat Daniel Akaka for his U.S. Senate job. This would have been the opportunity to give someone with long-range career goals a chance to gain the exposure of a statewide, high-profile race.

But those Republicans with secure political posts do not want to give up a safe seat, and who can blame them? The GOP is struggling to hold its numbers at the state Capitol, and, at the same time, build its ranks. Giving up a seat on any level is a luxury the party simply cannot afford.

Given these difficult circumstances, it's logical that longtime state Rep. Cynthia Thielen, R-50th (Kailua, Mokapu), would be seen as capable to fill the role. Thielen, well established and popular in her Windward district, has a solid centrist platform that fits nicely beneath the governor's moderate Republican umbrella.

Besides, she's running unopposed in the general election, so her state House seat is safe.

At 73, Thielen's political longevity seems limited, and with only six weeks to campaign, she's handicapped by a lack of broad name recognition. However, her candidacy does offer Republicans the opportunity to gain traction on several key issues. Thielen is a staunch supporter of environmental protection, and it is from this vantage point that she can point out holes in Akaka's record — most notably his vote favoring oil drilling in the Arctic refuge of Alaska.

Additionally, she's become a vocal champion of alternative energy development — another favorite Lingle topic — taking a particular interest in the prospects for wave energy. It's the right time to bring this issue to center stage, and the Republicans would do well to use this political spotlight as a beacon for future leaders who share Thielen's enthusiasm.