HONOLULU -- Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, kicks off his gubernatorial campaign Sunday.

On Saturday, his likely Democratic Party opponent in the governor's race, Mayor Mufi Hannemann, came out swinging. He accused Abercrombie of bad timing and robbing Hawaii of its representation in Congress at a critical time.

Hannemann said Abercrombie should remain in Congress. Abercrombie is likely to be Hannemann's leading opponent when Hannemann announces his bid for governor as expected.

"He is leaving the state in a very precarious position," Hannemann said. "He has a lot of seniority and there are major issues pending before Congress that will affect Honolulu and the state of Hawaii."

Hannemann was speaking Saturday to 650 at the United Okinawa Association.

"Just finished up the Ewa Christmas Parade and then we have the Waipahu parade and then we have Kapolei City Lights," Hannemann said.

Hannemann gets lots of publicity in his daily life as mayor, which could have been a key reason for Abercrombie to jump in now, observers said.

"Neil doesn't need to establish himself as a congressman any more," University of Hawaii political science professor Neal Milner said. "He has done that. It is time for him, I think, as he sees it, to make the commitment and get a little bit more of the day-to-day press. He is trying to force the mayor's hand a little bit more about whether or not he is going to declare or not."

Hannemann said, "I am not going to be forced by what Neil is going to do or anyone else is going to do."

Abercrombie's campaign said he's not ready to give a date for when he'll leave Congress.

"I think he is having second thoughts and I just hope he doesn't drag this thing and say that he intends to resign and yet doesn't give a firm date because people want his seat badly and they have a plan," Hanneman said.

The Abercrombie campaign said it is not about cold feet at all. It's about congressional duties, they said.

"This is clearly not about second thoughts," said Amy Agbayani, Abercrombie campaign honorary co-chair.

Some Abercrombie friends said they would be surprised if he leaves office before March 1. There are crucial congressional votes coming up at the beginning of the year.

As for Hannemann's plans, the mayor said on Saturday that he might wait right up until next year's July deadline to file.