Michael Nutter may have skipped the traditional Famous Deli stop at lunchtime today, but not so for Al Taubenberger. Not passing up his chance to take part in this Election Day custom, Taubenberger lunched at the popular eatery at 4th and Bainbridge at around noon today.
Among the lunchtime crowd at that point were several campaign staffers, Democratic party functionaries and District Attorney Lynn Abraham while outside a large contingent of McCaffery for Supreme Court supporters congregated.
Taubenberger, as he's been doing all day, didn't miss a chance to talk to a single person as he walked the streets around Famous Deli. While many of the folks he approached seemed unaware about today's mayoral election he did run into at least one woman who had been successfully plied by the Democratic message. Upon meeting Taubenberger, this older woman, in her 50s or 60s proceeded to let him know that she disagrees with everything he stands for a as a Republican and especially in the performance of President George Bush. Taubenberger's attempts to separate himself from the president went unheeded.
As Taubenberger continues south on Passyunk Avenue he's finding a much more lowkey, and at the very least polite, reception.
On the lunchtime deli tour, Taubenberger found a much friendlier audience at the Mercer Cafe. Located in a Republican stronghold in the lower Northeast, the Mercer played host to several GOP luminaries including Councilmen Jack Kelly and Frank Rizzo, Jr.
Check back later tonight for accounts of the scene at campaign headquarters as the results begin to come in.
Rachel Falcinelli is a senior broadcasting major at Temple University. Rachel will be talking to Al Taubenberger and find out why some people are voting for him. Rachel will talk to Al about the whether the Republican party can gain any traction in Philadelphia since there has not been a republican mayor in about 50 years. She will be with him day and night to and give readers a sense of what its like to hand out in an underdog candidate’s campaign.