The Larry Kane Report

It’s going to get wild in 2007. And again, it may all be black and white.
Now that Jon Saidel is out of the Phila Mayor’s race, Bob Brady, the well-liked Congressman ,is ready to jump into the race. Saidel and Brady are close, very close. The decision by Saidel had to be anguishing. In the meantime, NAACP chief Jerome Mondesire has blasted Brady for pushing Saidel out. Brady denies that and is very irritated that Mondesire charges it’s a plot to get another white candidate off the ballot. Millionaire Tom Knox is also white.
And so, at this early date, guess what has emerged as it always does in Philadelphia politics – race. Is that a surprise? No.

In the past, black leaders have urged unity behind one candidate. But this battle is different. Brady has successfully bridged the white-black line in Philadelphia over the years and may very well attract a lot of black voters.

But wait a minute!

The unknown in this battle is Dwight Evans, the talented State Representative who has all the goods, experience, leadership and a powerful voting bloc behind him. He is Mondesire’s choice. And although Brady will be taken very seriously, don’t count out Dwight Evans. Dwight Evans is the worst nightmare of Congressman Chaka Fattah who expected a coronation.

This is a rough and tumble event. From this reporter’s perspective, anyone can win including Michael Nutter, who has been a thorn in the Mayor’s side for 7 years. What if Brady talked Nutter out of it, by promising to make him Managing Director? And what if I don’t know what I’m talking about.

I’ve learned one thing over the years: never forecast a Philadelphia Mayor’s primary. It is an act of temporary insanity to even try.

One final note. Philadelphia Councilman Frank Rizzo Jr., a Republican, is telling friends that he too may seek the Democratic nomination.

Comments(1)