Voters head to polls today to choose new mayor

The election could still go either way, and both campaigns insist they will emerge victorious. Election Day is here and in a few short hours, Philadelphia will elect a new leader. After months of shaking hands and debating the issues, the city could meet tonight a Mayor Sam Katz or a Mayor John Street. The race is very close for Philadelphia, a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 4 to 1 margin. Yet the two candidates are neck and neck in the most recent polls and have been battling furiously during the final weeks of the election for the roughly one-quarter of the electorate that had remained undecided. Both campaigns remained confident last night, with each side saying they stand on the brink of victory. Katz has garnered support from many staunch Democrats with his party-free rhetoric and moderate conservative platform -- even scoring endorsements from The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News, as well as several prominent local Democrats. Spokesperson Bob Barnett said the Katz campaign felt confident heading into the election. "We've done everything we can do," he said. "We feel good." Street continues to tout his experience -- his 19-year tenure on City Council and his seven years working with outgoing Mayor Ed Rendell as Council president. But the Street campaign has lost a lot of Democratic support to Katz. President Clinton spoke at a Democratic rally for Street on Friday, trying to reinforce party support for the candidate's lackluster campaign. And Street's campaign says everything is under control. "We feel great," Street spokesperson Ken Snyder said. "Short of flaming cows falling from the sky, John Street is going to win." While Street and Katz agree that Philadelphia needs intensive work, they differ on how the work should be done. Katz, a former business executive, says that only by cutting taxes will the city -- which has lost 150,000 people over the past decade -- gain population and business. He has stressed the need for an innovative voice in City Hall. But Street has attacked Katz's goals, saying that the projected cuts would cripple city services. Street says he will carry out Rendell's program of limited tax cuts while working to improve the quality of life for people living in the city.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.