DA race down to the finish line

In less than 24 hours voters will be casting ballots in the primary election. The race for Philadelphia District Attorney has been drawing a lot of attention. Fliers from one Democratic candidate attacked two challengers, while the facts in the fliers have been attacked as well.

In less than 24 hours voters will be casting ballots in the primary election. The race for Philadelphia District Attorney has been drawing a lot of attention. Fliers from one Democratic candidate attacked two challengers, while the facts in the fliers have been attacked as well.

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[audio: 090518lfdarace.mp3]

With five candidates vying for one slot in a tightly contested race, Chris Borick says it was only a matter of time before things turned negative.

Borick is a Muhlenberg College Political Science professor. He says claims like the ones made by Democrat Dan McCaffery about challengers Dan McElhatton and Seth Williams, are designed to plant a seed of doubt in the minds of voters.

Borick: The strategy behind its pretty clear, make the front runners seem weak on law enforcement and like they’re not really willing to go after corruption. In a city like Philadelphia where crime rates have increased and fraud and corruption are all too present, trying to attach those problems to the candidates is a good strategy.

Borick says in the last minutes of a political race, candidates often resort to negative ads to try to bring the perceived front runners back to the field.