HONOLULU — State Democratic Party Chairman Dante Carpenter is expressing no disappointment that a national Democratic organization has decided to cease participating in the special election to fill Hawaii's vacant congressional seat.

A spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced Monday it is abandoning efforts to criticize the Republican candidate, Charles Djou, and aid two Democratic contenders, Ed Case and Colleen Hanabusa.

Carpenter said Monday that Hawaii Democrats share the DCCC's concerns about the election. But he said the group's negative ads aimed at Djou were unhelpful.

He says the ads conflicted with Hawaii's more gentlemanly political style.

Carpenter also says the DCCC has not directly told him it is ending its efforts.