The majority of the district's ward leaders endorsed Brady, so he is the official party candidate. That means it's Brady's campaign to win — if committeepeople do their job.

As the longtime chairman of the city's Democrats, he is the face of the party and, every four years, consistently gets voted back by the 67 ward leaders. But will the party be able to carry him to City Hall?

If the mayor's race were held two years ago, Local 98 Business Manager John Dougherty would have endorsed Bob Brady, hands down.

He has no real political baggage to speak of, with the exception of 1999, when he last ran (unsuccessfully) for mayor, receiving less than 5 percent of the vote. Lacking money and a strong political machine, as well as the power and connections to overcome the John Street operation, Evans was out.

In response, DiCicco campaign manager Renee Gilinger said Anastasio should spend more time knocking on doors.

Last year, Tom Knox was such a political unknown that, when he showed up at almost every local rally for Gov. Ed Rendell and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, he sported a large campaign button on his lapel. Much has changed since.

When candidates raise more than $250, they must authorize their committee within 20 days.

"As former Sen. Daniel Patrick Moyihan famously put it, we are each entitled to our own opinion. But no one is entitled to his own facts."

Has Nutter really broken from his establishment ways? To date, he has maintained his position as leader of the 52nd Ward and, in that role, is part of the whole party apparatus that he says he disdains.

"Brady has more LGBT support than all the other candidates for mayor combined, and you can quote me on that," said Mark Segal.