If District residents weren’t paying attention to the mayoral campaigns during the hot, slow summer, there’s no way they’ll be able to avoid them with Labor Day gone and decision day fast approaching.
Tuesday opened hot and heavy with D.C. Council Chairman Vince Gray unleashing a new Web site, formerlyfenty.com, that displays the self-posted stories of more than 300 former supporters of Mayor Adrian Fenty who say they switched camps as they became disillusioned by the mayor’s brusque governing style.
Mo Elleithee, a top Gray political consultant, said the Web site shows that the council chairman’s mayoral campaign has paid just as much attention to identifying supporters as the much vaunted, high-priced Fenty campaign.
One week into early voting, Elleithee admitted that it appears Gray might be behind at this point because residents in Fenty strongholds have turned out to the polls in droves. But Elleithee said the campaign isn’t worried: “When it comes to what goes down on primary day, we feel very good.”
The mayor spent part of his day with Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo passing out school supplies to students at Powell Elementary School in Northwest. The supplies came from the NFL’s Play 60 program that is designed to get kids in shape.
For Fenty it was an opportunity to talk about results.
“My administration is committed to ensuring all residents lead long, healthy, robust lives,” Fenty said. “We have invested in our parks and recreation centers where youth can participate in sports.”
