Now that Michael Nutter has approached front runner status with his statistical tie with Tom Knox in the last two public polls, can he expect to become a target of the same kind of challenges (I am no longer using the words "negative" or "attack" to describe such tactics unless they are factually incorrect or go after personal aspects of a candidate's life that have no bearing on his ability to govern) that Tom Knox has faced?
The scuttle, from at least one independent observer whom I've talked to, is that Mayor Street will be setting his sites on Nutter and going public with some challenges. It never helps to be the subject of criticism by the sitting mayor when you're seeking to replace him, regardless of how low that mayor's approval rating is. But on the other hand, it might play into Nutter's overall change message, and solidify his message of "I am not John Street," in the minds of voters when they step into the booth on May 15th.
Thoughts?
Comments (22)
Come election day, the candidates will be even, the polls mean nothing.
Philadelphia... get ready for the most wide open mayoral election in its history.
Posted by Jill | May 2, 2007 2:15 PM
Every "independent observer" has imagined EVERY scenerio possible. If you say enough things maybe they'll stick, thats how predictions in this primary are playing out.
Street hasn't endorsed a single soul. Why should he? You're likely to get more votes from Bush support then Street. An anti-Nutter campaign from Street would be free publicity for the mayoral candidate.
Posted by Patricio | May 2, 2007 2:17 PM
I agree. Street attacking nutter would have that effect. Therefore, could Street and Nutter be in cahoots?
Posted by Jill | May 2, 2007 2:20 PM
I agree. As signs continue to point to Nutter being the prefered alternative to Knox, you can be assured the attacks will start coming. The problem for Street though is that there's no guarantee that Nutter voters would shift to Fattah. Although, his interest may be primarily in influencing the undecided voters. I hope Nutter is prepared and can use the attacks to emphasize his reform positions.
Plus, with an approval rating that rivals Bush, Street's opinion about anything at this point could have the opposite effect of boosting support for his target.
Posted by Anonymous | May 2, 2007 2:21 PM
Cahoots? The odds of Nutter and Street teaming up are about as likely as Knox and Blackwell partnering. Oh, wait a second....
Posted by Anonymous | May 2, 2007 2:24 PM
If the race is seen as Street v. Nutter, Nutter wins.
Posted by Adam B![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blogs.phillynews.com/dailynews/nextmayor/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 2, 2007 2:26 PM
I am telling you, Street has decided to use his unpopularity to help Nutter.
Ferenemies they are. I'm telling you
Posted by Jill | May 2, 2007 2:31 PM
I don't know if Street and Nutter are in cahoots, but I know for sure that Brady and and Carol Campbell, who the ethics board is suing, are in cahoots.
Posted by Anonymous | May 2, 2007 2:45 PM
Its kind of tough to attack Nutter, he doesnt have a lot of glaring weaknesses. I mean its going to kind of hard to launch ads openly questioning his "blackness" and thats about the only thing people have criticized him for. Knox cant fire away at him because Nutter is the insider who has been pushing reform. He isnt rich so you cant hit him on that either. I say good luck to whomever has to come up with effective attack ads.
Posted by sj | May 2, 2007 3:14 PM
Attack ads don't have to be true to be effective. Look for the slander to start soon.
Posted by Anonymous | May 2, 2007 3:18 PM
Slander has been the entire basis of the Knox campaign.
Posted by Jill | May 2, 2007 4:56 PM
To Jill and sj, Nutter's time down at the "Republican controlled" PA Convention Center was spent more productively ($$$) than either of you will ever know... more on this will be coming up shortly.
Michael has been running ads almost 24/7 the last 2 weeks or so. Almost as much as Tom Knox. Where is all this extra money coming from?? Sam Katz is back in the picture... believe it.
Posted by Son of Anonymous | May 2, 2007 5:29 PM
the attacks on nutter will focus on the no bid contracts he grooved to his campaign chairman's law firm while he was chair of the convention center. the dollar ammounts of nutter no-bids make Knox and Brady's no-bids seem like a joke. surprised the media has not written about it.
Posted by Anonymous | May 2, 2007 6:24 PM
Your surprised know one has written about your fictitious story? Go ahead, keep trying to smear Nutter, it only proves his point. The Democratic machine is desperate to maintain the status quo shake-down of the tax payers.
Brady, Fumo, Campbell, Street; great company.
Posted by Anonymous | May 2, 2007 6:59 PM
Yep, here comes the slime. Expect everything, including my favorite--the dreaded 'Republican' charge. This year's version of race-baiting.
Posted by Anonymous | May 2, 2007 9:10 PM
If you can't fill out a form, you shouldn't be mayor!
Posted by Anonymous | May 2, 2007 9:29 PM
Can you please stop harping on the filling out the form? He could fill out the form. He did fill out the form. The form was correctly filled out. This stupid form has been scrutinized in THREE seperate occasions. Knox wasted the Court's time and taxpayer's money to look at the ##$%%^ form. Brady's still on the campaign because all THREE of the courts decided the form was fine in the way it was completed.
Come on...can you talk about something new, or is that too challenging for your little one track mind?
Posted by Catherine | May 2, 2007 11:34 PM
Maybe, but he still doesn't unstand "vesting".
And, the the Judge asked "wasn't there an IQ test to be mayor of Philadelphia'!!!!!
yeah, I'm gonna vote for the dumb ass.
Posted by Anonymous | May 3, 2007 12:04 AM
What else does Brady not understand???
Posted by Anonymous | May 3, 2007 12:06 AM
There should be an IQ test to be Mayor.
Vesting: the granting to an eligible employee of the right to specified pension benefits, regardless of discontinued employment status, usually after a fixed period of employment.
Posted by Anonymous | May 3, 2007 5:59 AM
We can't afford to have a simpleton like Brady running a complex city.
Posted by Anonymous | May 3, 2007 6:13 AM
Good to see that Madrak has everyone blogging again.
Posted by Jill | May 3, 2007 8:10 AM