The event was designed to get volunteers revved up for the get out the vote effort Tuesday. All the other campaigns will be revving up their get out the vote efforts in coming days, too.
But among the cheers and the chanting, Nutter, who is the front-runner in the race for mayor, expressed his respect for the strength of the other candidates:
“I learned a long time ago that when you take your eye off the ball is when you get hit in the head…the election is in 5 days, and that’s the poll we want to win," he said, according to Daily News intern Nolan Rosenkrans, who was there.
“There’s 4 other people out here ... and they are serious people. This is a campaign, it’s not a tea party.”
And yet, he got in some zingers. Among them:
“I’m just a poor guy from West Philadelphia trying to get a job," he said. The "other guys have a job, and the other guy obviously doesn’t need a job, I really want the job!”
And he didn't bite when asked about independent attack ads. “I’m looking forward to seeing my ads on TV. I don't have time to worry about what other ads are on TV -- I haven’t seen a TV in a good while. I'm focused on this campaign, and what people in this room, and all over Philadelphia, care about -- which is crime, public safety, jobs, educating our kids.”
Comments (11)
The reality of this mayoral race is that anyone could run, they could say whatever they want to in the process, yet still have a very strong chance of winning nonetheless. For when everyday Philadelphians go out to vote for these candidates, what are they really voting for? For I'll tell you that whatever will persuade them to vote for this or that candidate is really no different than the same approach they use when picking this or that lottery number. In brief, this time around it's to be no different than an eeny meeny miny moe kind of thing.
And the reason why is very simple. Philadelphia at this stage is none other than a dead wheel city. That is, to the rest of the nation and the world it is no longer of any strategic importance, economically, politically, militarily or what have you. So given that, what difference does it really make who its next mayor shall be?
In my case, I've listened to each of the candidates very carefully. And I've listened very carefully to those who favor this or that candidate also. But each of the candidates has totally failed to make a case -- good or otherwise -- why they're the best choice. And of those who favor this or that candidate, the explanation is no more rational than why today, or yesterday, or last week they picked this or that lottery number.
In terms of the candidates, I'm looking for substance. And I've even gone so far as to slip each candidate the answers I'm looking to hear. But it's like bouncing a tennis ball off the wall as opposed to playing against an actual and skilled opponent. And right now it's just a matter of which of the Bozos is best. Eeeny meeny miny moe. Alas!
Posted by Steve W. | May 11, 2007 2:51 AM
And I thought I was cynical! In any case, I find it hard to believe that someone could have read all of the Nutter campaigns position papers and still complain that none of the candidates have put forth any substance.
Posted by Observer | May 11, 2007 9:27 AM
This has been the most issues-focused campaign I can remember. Those who say the candidates haven't put forth any substance haven't done their homework. Check their web sites!!
Posted by Anonymous | May 11, 2007 9:31 AM
Steve sounds like Marvin the depressed android from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
OK I'm a nerd, I know.
Posted by gotta move | May 11, 2007 9:39 AM
People expect to be spoon fed.
Posted by Anonymous | May 11, 2007 9:40 AM
Funny part of the rally was when his campaign worker was describing Nutter as 'Smart' and the cheers in the audience changed from "We like Mike" to "We Like Smart".
Posted by gotta move | May 11, 2007 9:42 AM
Cue Dan with the Simpsons reference.. Homer: "I am so smart. S-M-R-T. I mean S-A-M-R-T."
But seriously.
It has been an issues-focused campaign, but that doesn't mean that the issues raised were the ones that individual voters wanted to hear. Steve W., were you looking for more on taxes and job creation?
Posted by Wendy | May 11, 2007 9:53 AM
For a better Philadelphia. Vote Tom Knox.
Jas...
Posted by Jasper Zeigler Jr | May 11, 2007 11:19 AM
Knox is a bum!
Posted by Knox is a bum! | May 11, 2007 11:26 AM
I think Steve W was looking for somebody to condemn the Fox Chase Cancer Center for wanting to destroy Burholme Park and to promise to make North Philly the industrial power house it once was. Incidentally, Nutter pointed out at one of the debates -- the one on WHYY channel 12, I think -- that the city still has about 1300 industiral companies and that having the mayor reach out to them the way Rendell reached out to the tourism and hospitality industry would be beneficial fo the city's economy and job market.
I won't bash Steve, though. It takes a lot of effort to research the candidates and see past any false facades they might put up.
Posted by Anonymous | May 11, 2007 12:59 PM
Admittedly I would be leaning heavily toward Michael Nutter if not for the whole stop and frisk thing. That, plus someone's saying he favors the Fox Chase Cancer Center's expansion onto Burholme Park if "suitable" open green space can be found elsewhere to replace that which will be lost. As for my not having done my homework in researching all the candidates, it's not so much a matter of that as it's a case that not one has delivered the spark I'm looking for. Each candidate is playing politics rather than coming right out and telling it straight. At the same time I realize that none of them can do that, given the non-strategic position Philadelphia is currently in. Sure, we do still have some manufacturing operations here, but then, what are we talking about? Tasty Cake? Not to knock Tasty Cake, but God forbid what would become of the world if Tasty Baking Co. were suddenly to fold!
Now to some entitities, the more sinister ones, we do have a very strategic role. For instance, pharmaceutical companies worldwide are relying on the University of Pennsylvania very heavily to bring back the whole Acres of Skin thing, all in the name of "scientific progress." Hence the reactivation of Holmesburg Prison. And the Fox Chase Cancer Center falls into that category, too, hence why it's an absolute must that it expands in a location that is so cut off and remote. So in combination with all that, the dumber the next Philadelphia mayor the better.
I, of course, would like to see Philadelphia become a force for good once more. But then, what the heck does that have to do with this current Philadelphia mayoral race? All the candidates running this year are so God-awful that to say any of them are opportunists would actually be a compliment.
Posted by Steve W. | May 12, 2007 3:00 AM