Chum in the water (The Next Mayor)

Of all the moments for The Next Mayor to have a massive blog outage…

But we’re back.

As you may have read by now, this afternoon Tommy the Loan Shark held a press conference, and things got ugly.

The press conference was broken up by PR guy Frank Keel, who launched into a screed against TTLS, claiming the shark is linked to Bob Brady.

But here’s the real scoop: Keel also claimed that Ken Smukler, on behalf of the Brady camp, had approached Keel – at a secret meeting at Starbucks – with an offer of up to a $1 million budget, totally off the books, to go after Tom Knox.

And here’s something amazing.

Smukler just acknowledged to Dave Davies that he did meet with Frank, but he did so not as a member of the Brady campaign, and that he suggested Frank form a 527 organization to go after Knox, and that he could raise $1 million from citizens worried about having Knox buy the mayor's race.

At this time, Smukler had already worked on Bob Brady’s campaign announcement, and he has since worked for Brady’s congressional campaign committee.

Holy cow.

We’re still reporting this, of course, and will update as we get more information.

Comments (15)

Robert:

as I posted over at 215

Keel, Knox, Brady, Doc ... man, toss em all in a pot and all you get is a terrible smell.

Let em wrestle to the ground - all it shows is just why none of these folks should be in - or connected to - the Mayor's Office.

*Michael Nutter For Mayor*

Posted by Robert | April 27, 2007 3:26 PM

WardWatcher

this story is awesome on many levels that you don't mention, so allow me to point them out.

I love that Keel was at the press conference to essentially defend Tom Knox. Keel's only client is John Dougherty and Local 98, so its good that they are finally being public about the relationship between Doc and Knox.

but apparently Smukler is the last person in Philly to realize that Keel and Doc were in bed with Knox for months - why else would he be so naive about as to talk to Keel about going against Knox?!?

by the way, I like how you acknowedge tacitly that Smukler has been demoted - in January he was going to run the mayoral campaign, but clearly Ken Snyder has had him suppressed....

Posted by WardWatcher | April 27, 2007 3:29 PM

shopsteward24:

God I love this city!

Posted by shopsteward24 | April 27, 2007 3:39 PM

Liz:

Next Mayor- I need you help on this one. Normally I feel like I understand the characters in this town pretty well- and thus when I get the news I can digest it--I'm having trouble really following who these people are, who they work for, and what they are doing right now. Can you plase spell it out for me- particularly the connection between Johnny Doc's thugs (as in the people threateaning voters at polls in 1999) and Tom Knox, as well as these people "loosely" working for brady. Also, if you could add a little bit about what these connections mean. I'm feeling a little dense this time- so please help spell it out. Thanks :)

Posted by Liz | April 27, 2007 4:11 PM

Anonymous:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piN4FrsuoMY

Funny PaydayLending Rap - shark attack

Posted by Anonymous | April 27, 2007 4:18 PM

Man, Brady must be really desperate.

Posted by Anonymous | April 27, 2007 5:10 PM

So is it safe to say here that Tom "Outsider" Knox is once again caught playing the classic insider by paying off members of Local 98 (whose membership, I do seem to reacall is mostly suberban) to "Get out the vote", i.e. intimidate his opponents at the polls. I can't believe Knox thinks he is going to get away with this without people noticing who he is doing business with. Shouldn't local 98 be banned from participating after all of the illegal things they did in '99. Is there any way to prevent them from doing it again??? Or is it just going to come down to a weak effort, supported only by Com. of 70 on e-Day.

This is the kind of spelling it out I'd like to see the daily news/inky do for the average reader who may not get what Knox working with 98 may mean.

Posted by Liz | April 27, 2007 5:14 PM

Wendy:

Dan: The only thing I would add to your post is that Smukler has said he works for Brady's Congressional office, not the campaign. I would imagine this key question will be much discussed.

Posted by Wendy | April 27, 2007 9:03 PM

DC:

So show is Frank Keel a consultant to the Local 98 Mafia? Does he consult them on how to beat people up and polling places?

Now we know there's a link between Knox and Philadelphia's biggest "mafia", I no longer have faith in Tom Knox.

Posted by DC | April 27, 2007 11:28 PM

jerry:

Smukler is no dummy. Looking at the comments above it seems to me that he might have anticipated 98's move and set Keel up to go public to draw the focus to Knox's insider hypocrisy. One only has to look at Smukler's former campaigns for validation. In all honesty,at least someone came up with a creative way to take on Knox.

Posted by jerry | April 28, 2007 7:51 AM

Knox is the greatest b.s. artist to come along in a while - I just hope somebody stops him before he b.s.'s his way into city hall. I give Brady credit for having the balls to do something about it. Especially because it benefits Mike Nutter!

Posted by Anonymous | April 28, 2007 8:06 AM

Nutter can't win fool!

Posted by Anonymous | April 28, 2007 7:57 PM

Looks like Smukler got the last laugh. Keel ... he may be a Smukler ... but Frank your just a schmuck! I bet if you check the tracking polls Knox started to take a dive the moment you busted in on that press conference. You're a real media genius.

Posted by Anonymous | May 16, 2007 8:24 PM

Posted by Anonymous | May 16, 2007 8:26 PM

ms jackie ernst:

dear mr. nutter & family
i am a 62 year old white woman from south jersey. i read the phila. daily news every day.i feel you are the best person to be mayor of philadelphia.if i could have voted, i would have pulled # 56. best of luck to you!!
i was born in philly.

Posted by ms jackie ernst | May 17, 2007 4:52 PM

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