The Larry Kane Report

Moderating a Mayoral Debate is my idea of a great morning. My time with Bob Brady, Dwight Evans , Chaka Fattah, Tom Knox and Michael Nutter was a close up view of the fab five with I4 days left. You can hear the entire thing on podcast at KYW1060.com. JUST CLICK LINK TO RIGH.  KYW’S MIKE DUNN AND STEVE TAWA WERE TENACIOUS. It was high drama and the first live debate. It was also the best.
Brady was on fire, He lashed out at KYW Newsradio City Hall guy Mike Dunn, when Dunn interrupted one of his answers. Brady was trying to answer a question about casinos when Dunn foilowed up. At one point, Brady charged, “Are you goin to let me talk?” For his part, Brady offered one of the best retorts of the debate, when, referring to Tom Knox’s business practices, he said, “You’ve been ripping off the public for 40 years.”

Apparent frontrunner Tom Knox seemed halting at first, but he regained his energy as he cautiously answered questions about his past business of offering payday loans. But Knox finished the debate intact, considering that everyone was on the attack against him.

Michael Nutter, who many believe is threatening Knox’s lead, defended his plan to have police to stop and frisk suspects, while Dwight Evans suggested it may be illegal. Evans and Nutter were both eloquent. What you couldn’t see was the body language between the fab five . Brady was waving at the others, and Nutter, Brady, Fattah and Evans all seemed happy with each other, and with each other’s shots at Knox. Knox, quiet and pensive, did not mind being alone in the group of friends.
The biggest surprise of the debate was Fattah, who was more forceful and deliberate in this debate that at anytime in the campaign.

So, what’s next? With 30 percent undecided, it is all up in the air.

Here’s what to look for:

Knox will not strike back against ferocious attacks by
Bob Brady, because there Is a fear that this might
push voters into the Nutter Camp.
A so called 527 independent group will introduce new
and scathing attacks on Knox.

Chaka Fattah will gear up what he calls the best
street machine in the city. Bob Brady would disagree
with that.

Dwight Evans plows straight ahead, undaunted and
determined..

And Nutter, fresh from an endorsement by the
Inquirer, says his fund raising is soaring.

Once again, you can listen to the entire BREAKFAST WITH THE CANDIDATES AT KYW1060.COM.