Capitol Watch reports:

John Carroll, who received a mere 6 percent of the vote in his enormous loss to Linda Lingle in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, is now supporting Mazie Hirono in the general election.

Calling the former Hawaii governor a “clear and present danger” to the economic and political health of the state, Carroll said Hirono was a candidate who possessed “common sense,” character, sincerity and ability.

He singled out tourism and the environment as issues where he agreed with Hirono and criticized Lingle’s record regarding school furloughs and the Hawaii Superferry. He also suggested he didn’t care what the Hawaii GOP had to say about his endorsement of a Democrat.

Carroll, 83, referred to Hirono, 64, as a “young lady.” Hirono described the endorsement as an example of her ability to reach across the party aisle.