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Richard Piatt ReportingThe race for Salt Lake City mayor is coming down to the wire. Both Rocky Anderson and Frank Pignanelli are working to get voters out and to vote for them.
The candidates know there's a lot out of their control on Election Day, like the weather and the mood of voters who haven't made up their minds. So, they're concentrating now on what they can control.
Snow and rain usually mean low turnout for elections. But if the weather's bad Tuesday, add it to a list of unknowns in the Salt Lake City mayor's race. Rocky Anderson and Frank Pignanelli are now in a race that's too close to call according to recent polls. That means both are trying to reach as many people as possible.
Debates can be a fight against the forces of nature.
Dan Jones, Political Pollster: "Weather can affect turnout. People don't go out because it's just plain miserable."
According to pollster Dan Jones, bad weather could hurt Pignanelli who registered well with elderly people in his latest poll. Pignanelli could gain votes if Molonai Hola supporters--more likely to vote the challenger--turn out.
Anderson could benefit more from city employees’ support, but many employees don't vote.
A wildcard for both is registered Republicans who may just sit out the election, rather than vote for either Democrat. In the meantime, the candidates are both are battling perceptions. Anderson is frustrated that some see him as anti-LDS.
Rocky Anderson, Salt Lake City Mayor: "I think the one message that should come through loudly and clearly during my administration is it's not a matter of picking sides, it's a matter of having everyone at the table."
Pignanelli fights the image he is too tied to special interests. He is proposing new disclosure laws for the city.
Frank Pignanelli, Candidate for Salt Lake City Mayor: “We're going to have that disclosure so that residents and business owners know who's lobbying the mayor, who's lobbying the city council, who's being paid to do this, and who their clients are."
The candidates will debate each other one last time tonight. It ends a race for mayor that started slow, but is now a classic political race where anything could happen.
