Mayoral Race 1999: Clinton gives Street a boost in campaign's final days

President Clinton came to Philadelphia Friday to host a rally in support of Democratic mayoral candidate John Street. He did not get endorsements from the Philadelphia Inquirer or the Philadelphia Daily News. Two of his primary opponents are backing his rival. And right now it looks like either candidate could win the election. But on Friday, John Street got the presidential seal of approval. President Clinton visited Philadelphia to attend a rally for the Democratic mayoral candidate, giving a much-needed boost to a candidate who was once considered unbeatable. Clinton ignited the crowd with his party rhetoric -- asking how Street could be running so close with Republican Sam Katz in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 4 to 1 margin. "What's the deal here?" he questioned, arms outstretched to the 5,000 screaming supporters at La Salle University. "John Street is a young, vigorous, dedicated public servant," Clinton told the crowds, telling people to "reward his record." Clinton was flanked on stage by Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), outgoing Mayor Ed Rendell and various local Democrats, including Reps. Chakah Fattah, Robert Borski and Robert Brady. As the announcer bellowed to the pom-pom waving Street fans -- the Democrats were in the house. Undaunted by Clinton's appearance, Katz spent the day campaigning with John White, who lost to Street in the Democratic primaries and whose endorsement of Katz helped pave the way for a closer-than-expected general election. Katz has repeatedly dismissed the importance of Clinton's visit, saying that party is not a key factor in city politics. But party loyalty was clearly the overriding theme of the rally. Signs proclaiming "The Democratic party is still intact" hung across the gym and a band played "We are Family," loudly before and after the event. "The Democratic party is the party of the people. We are the working-class people," roared Brady to the invitation-only crowd which was approximately two-thirds African American -- illustrating Street's attempts to secure the city's black vote. Street pumped up the audience with a rousing speech during which he managed to turn the phrase "lower taxes" into a negative chant. The keystone of Katz's campaign has been his pledge to make cuts to the city wage taxes -- cuts that Street says will damage city services. "The Democrat want to invest in the city," he yelled, "but the Republican wants to?" "Lower taxes!" the crowd shouted back. Street hit the big issues -- education, conservative economic reform and neighborhood development -- but he also went right for the heartstrings with a story about crying the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Sen. Kennedy spoke briefly on Street's behalf, reflecting on the strong Philadelphia support for his slain older brother. "I want those same votes for John Street," he said. As Clinton stepped towards the podium, Street pinned a John Street for Mayor button on his jacket. "This is a very good day for me," Street said. And Clinton's speech only made his day better. The president kept his 25-minute speech casual, telling the crowd he wanted to talk to them not as a president but as "a good friend for Philadelphia." Clinton said Street had been unfairly portrayed by the media as uninteresting or uninspiring. "The guy they introduced me to had vision and charisma," he said. He urged the crowd to bring out the Democratic vote on Tuesday. "What will it say if you stay home after the job this man has done?" he asked the crowd. Rendell, whom Clinton recently appointed as general chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, talked along the same vein. He told the crowd about his seven-year partnership with Street, saying that the two of them "turned the city around." "Folks, it happened. No one can re-write history," he said. Rendell continued to load on the praise for Street. "He's the best qualified person ever to run for mayor," he said, grabbing Street's hand and raising it up in the air.

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