This one looks like it's going doen to the wire.
Survey USA has the race too close to call with Democrat Chris Doherty at 49% and Republican Gary DiBileo at 46%.
In an election for Mayor of Scranton today, 10/7/05, incumbent Chris Doherty and City Council President Gary DiBileo are locked in a fierce fight, according to a SurveyUSA poll of 546 likely city of Scranton voters, conducted exclusively for WNEP-TV. Doherty gets 49%. DiBileo gets 46%. Election day is 11/8/05. Doherty and DiBileo ran in both Democratic and Republican primaries in May. After recounts in both primaries, Doherty won the Democratic primary and appears on the ballot as a Democrat. DiBileo won the Republican primary and appears on the ballot as a Republican, although the Scranton Republican Party has endorsed Doherty. The race is contested among all demographic subpopulations, with no strong voting patterns apparent. Doherty's supporters are slightly older and more educated than DiBileo's, but the contest is fluid and neither candidate has a reliable "base."
Accoriding to
WNEP
Neither Mayor Doherty nor Mr. DiBileo seemed surprised with the results.
"I think it tells you what we knew back in May, that it's going to be a very close race. We've been working hard and we expect it to be close to the end. That's why we're working so hard to get our message out," Mayor Doherty.
"Considering that my opponent is an incumbent mayor, and considering he's outspent us five to one at this point, we're happy to be where we're at," DibBileo said.
The reaction in downtown Scranton was a bit mixed.
Alejandra Marroquin said she's been trying to get the city's Latino population into the polling booths.
"Usually people get tired of not seeing change quickly. Sometimes choosing a new mayor, people think they'll see changes quickly. I think that's why it's so close," she said.
Thomas Sohns believes the race will continue to be hotly contested, right up to election day.
"I think it will be close too in November and they'll be counting and counting and may have to count again. It'll be close," he said.
Since I am from Detroit, I'm having a hard time understanding this part
Doherty and DiBileo ran in both Democratic and Republican primaries in May. After recounts in both primaries, Doherty won the Democratic primary and appears on the ballot as a Democrat. DiBileo won the Republican primary and appears on the ballot as a Republican, although the Scranton Republican Party has endorsed Doherty.
I know Scranton is a conservative town, but what the hell is going on? Maybe someone more familiar with the place can tell me what's going on? Who should we be cheering for?