I've been a resident of the Rhawnhurst section of Northeast Philadelphia for more than 20 years. The neighborhood has gone from an entirely white community of Catholics and Jews to a more diverse population of Asians, Hispanics and African-Americans. I welcome the change. But someone here doesn't.

Bob Brady and Dwight Evans never had it. Chaka Fattah had it last summer and is trying hard to get it back. Tom Knox had

But every candidate is not a perfect fit for every elected office, and there is no way a candidate is going to point out his own flaws.

On election day, volunteers will fan out across the city to do one last swing through the neighborhoods. They're knocking on doors, dragging people out of their homes, driving them to the polls and doing anything else necessary.

The final reason to seek an endorsement is the credibility it gives a candidate among the voters. It is easier for many voters to make connection with a candidate if someone else they know and respect is backing him; it basically becomes the Good Housekeeping seal of approval.

not every voter will be contacted by every campaign for the simple reason that every campaign does not want every voter to come to the polls.

Brady's campaign has been beset by problems, far too many of his own making. Let's start with the recent spate of problems connected to his financial-interest statement and Tom Knox's efforts to get him kicked off the ballot.

No one discussed whether he should be mayor, but rather whether he wanted to run because if he ran, he would win.

vans is perfectly positioned on the issues. He has a real record of fiscal discipline. He has a record of working with Democrats and Republicans to get things done. Even difficult things, such as the takeover of the schools.

My advice to Nutter and his campaign is simple: Stop screwing around. Stop being the nice, smart guy. And start being aggressive with your opponents.