Philly Mayoral - Street may be in trouble

[birdman]

Republican Sam Katz holds a 6-point lead over Mayor Street, according to a Temple University/CBS 3/KYW political poll released last night.

The survey of 427 likely Philadelphia voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.

The poll found Katz leading 46 to 40 percent, with 13 percent undecided. When undecideds were asked which way they were leaning, Katz maintained his lead, 49 to 43, with 6 percent undecided.
<snip>

The poll found Street with weak approval ratings for an incumbent, with 44 percent approving of his performance, 48 percent disapproving and 8 percent neutral.

The survey found Katz doing better among his 1999 voters, retaining their support by a margin of 83 to 6 percent. Street was the choice of his 1999 voters by a 63 to 21 percent margin.

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/6837660.htm


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Street has been at best a lackluster mayor. His campaign has had a
couple of ugly scandals. A Molotov cocktail was thrown into one of Katz campaign offices hours after an associate of Streets son Sharif had threatened the operator of the building. Katz has picked up a couple of key union endorsements. Street is something of an abrasive figure and he only won by 1% (over Katz) last time. Unless something changes Katz will become the city's first Repub mayor in more than 50 years.

[CMT]

1. Street better hope for a big turnout on election day

because that is the only thing that will save him, imo. I hate the idea of the Repukes having the Mayorship of Philly.

[birdman]

2. He managed to win the demographic battle last time

but not by much. I recall going to a political meeting
in October of 1999 and meeting up with two African-American
members of the Philly Democratic Party and they were furious
at Street for the fact that he hated campaigning and pissed away
the whole summer allowing Katz to get all the momentum.

The black community turned out for Street last time and he
just squeezed in but he's going to have to really motivate
them this time. Katz is actually trying to portray himself
as the true successor of the popular Ed Rendell (now PA
Governor). Street isn't toast yet but he's getting a tad crispy.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. High turnout won't save him

He is going to have to get white Democrats to forget what they know about him.

He gave a speech to the NAACP where he said that the 'Brothers and Sisters' were finally in charge at city hall. Street held a press conference where he touted the success story of a beneficiary one of his programs. This 'former' drug dealer was now an entrepenuer, selling t-shirts. Unfortunately, he was also still selling drugs. Just about every week it is something new with this guy.

There are about 3.8 registered Democrats in Philadelphia for every registered Republican. Despite this overwealming advantage, it looks like the City of Brotherly Love will have a Republican mayor next year.

[jiacinto]

3. Street's done

What a shame. I'm not necessarily a fan of his, but the thought of Philadelphia having a Republican mayor to help out Bush in 2004 concerns me.

The only thing that can save Street is Philadelphia's overwhelmingly Democratic registration advantage. Given how Katz is ahead in the polls, adjusting for the city's partisan tilt toward the Democrats, as some of those Katz supporters who are Democrats will come back for election day, it is still a dead heat, although it still leans toward Katz.

The problem that I see is that Street alienated himself from the white voters of NE Philadelphia. And doing that may be what costs him a second term.

[birdman]

4. Street now has Bill Cosby

doing "feel good" commercials describing Streets policies
as "hugs and kisses" for Philadelphians. I suppose the
intent is to soften his somewhat harsh image.

Katz by the way is a political chameleon. He's run for many
city and state-wide offices but I don't believe he's ever held
office. He's run as a liberal Republican, morphed into a
conservative Pubbie when he tried to become governor a few years
back and now is running as a moderate to liberal. He's twice
avoided meeting with Bush during recent Presidential fund-raisers
in the city because he thought photo-ops with Bush would hurt
his campaign.

I don't think Katz will help Bush much next year if Katz is the
Philly mayor.

[jiacinto]

9. Okay

I wonder why Street hasn't brought that up.

[phillybri]

6. Frank Rizzo was a Republican, wasn't he?

:shrug:

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. He was a Democrat most of his life

But switched parties later in his career.

His son in on the City Council, and is a Republican.

[UnapologeticLiberal]

8. Honestly, if Street does not get reelected it won't be such a bad thing

He has messed up a lot of stuff, and Katz is not so bad for a Republican...he seems like a RINO, saying he is running to continue the Rendell legacy in the city. Maybe I am partial because I went to high school with Katz's daughter...if I lived in Philly I am not sure how I would vote. Probably for Street, just because having a Democratic mayor in 2004 will help get out the vote in Philly, which is crucial for any Democrat to win Pennsylvania.

Help make this a September to Remember

[goobergunch]

10. Yeah

The only reason I'm supportive of Street is because of the letter next to his name.

[LynneSin]

11. I don't think a Katz victory will help Bush in 2004

Remember that the people that Philadelphians do love is Ed Rendell, who is now the governor of Pennsylvania. I've never been a big fan of John Street after I watched him suck up to Bush when Bush was in town on July 4th 2001. I appreciate that you have to be cordial when the president, even one who was selected, shows up and visits your town. But Street treated Bush like he was his long lost friend and that just made me ill to my stomach!

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. The loss of patronage jobs will hurt the Philadelphia Democratic Party

This will mean less money, and less manpower to get the vote out. There will also probably be some Democrats who will switch parties in order to keep their jobs (or to ensure that their relatives keep their jobs). Even if these people don't become active Republicans, they probably won't be working for Democratic candidates.