While you were gone: The final weekend, a crazy press conference and more

Wondering what’s been going on with the mayoral campaign since you walked away from your computer on Friday? We got you covered.

Let’s check out a few stories that have run here, and via other media outlets, in the past few days.

What we’re covering today

–Jim Kenney asks his fellow candidates whether they would do or say anything differently if they could go back in (campaign) time. Plus, we’ll have a bunch of campaign-in-review posts going live throughout the day. So, check back!

17 stories we’re linking to

— 2015 Philadelphia Voters Guide: Get all the details you need about the mayoral candidates via our handy-dandy voters guide.

— Philly mayoral candidates concede nothing on final campaign weekend: Tomorrow, Philadelphia Democrats will make their pick for mayor, and the final days of the campaign have a familiar feel: With forums and debates behind them, the candidates stop engaging each other and focus on energizing their bases and turning out voters. Trailing candidates try and convince supporters they’re still in the game. Frontrunners warn followers about overconfidence. The six candidates for mayor whirled around Philadelphia over the weekend meeting as many voters as possible, while the TV advertising messages remained familiar — with one exception. An ad attacking former City Councilman Jim Kenney has appeared from a new organization called Leadership Matters.

— Candidates woo voters on the last Saturday before Tuesday mayoral primary (The Next Mayor/Inquirer): Frozen yogurt, a basketball clinic, handshakes with military veterans. The six candidates for the Democratic nomination for mayor criss-crossed the city on the last Saturday before Tuesday’s primary election.

— Nutter during crisis – experts judged him mostly solid, with one slip on CNN: As Philadelphia looks to elect its next mayor, this week’s tragic Amtrak derailment was a reminder of the challenges big city leaders can face. Mayor Michael Nutter (who is term-limited) has made a point this spring of urging voters to consider which of the candidates to replace him seems most ready to handle moments of crisis like he faced last week. So, turning the tables, let’s ask: How did Nutter do?

— Williams bashes Kenney, polling data during hectic presser on a Center City sidewalk : It was a news conference called outside a Locust Street restaurant to “talk about the state of the campaign.” Based on what ensued, the state of Anthony Hardy Williams’s mayoral bid might be described as “harried” and “confused.”

— Mayoral campaign shows rules have changed on money, race (The Next Mayor/Inquirer): White voters crossed over in head-turning numbers to support an African American candidate for mayor, Michael Nutter. Last week’s poll showed Nutter with a strong approval rating at 59 percent. Break it down by race and Nutter’s support remains in positive territory: 67 percent of white Democratic likely voters, 52 percent with blacks.

— (Not) asked and answered: Did you miss any entries in last week’s candidates-ask-questions series? Fear not. They’re all right here (with the exclusion of Jim Kenney’s which runs later this morning):

Lynne Abraham on women, children and the elderly

Tony Williams on narratives and stereotyped candidates

Nelson Diaz questions Jim Kenney on Morales issue

Milton Street asks Kenney about stop-and-frisk and young homicide victims

(Not) asked and answered: Doug Oliver’s campaign raises questions about the ‘experience’ issue

— Philly politics: Why Nelson Díaz matters (Al Dia): Because he is the sole representative of a growing community chafing at the dearth of its political representation, Nelson Díaz has had to bear the weight of a lot of hopes, expectations and misperceptions on his shoulders. He has done so, in the majority of instances, with aplomb and forbearance.

— Going into the stretch, Kenney and Williams campaigns show differences (The Next Mayor/Inquirer): Two candidates for mayor held campaign events Friday – just two blocks away from each other in Center City – offering two very different approaches for the last four days of the primary campaign. Former City Councilman James F. Kenney gathered a diverse group of elected officials in a quiet, pleasant courtyard at John C. Anderson Apartments on South 13th Street. At ease and often joking, they discussed his campaign’s get-out-the-vote effort. Over on Locust Street, supporters of State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams gathered outside a restaurant where his campaign mistakenly thought a new poll on the mayor’s race was being released.

— The Mayoral Race Gets Weird — Real Weird (Citified): Was there a poll? Terry Madonna, Director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College confirmed with Citified’s Holly Otterbein that he wasn’t doing a poll until June. What poll would Williams be talking about at this mid-afternoon press conference?

— Mayoral election is no foregone conclusion (The Next Mayor/Inquirer): “You could be the most popular person in a poll and lose an election,” pollster Adam Geller said. “Because if you don’t get your voters out, who cares?”

— Primary election campaign comes down to the wire (Philadelphia Tribune): Williams, meanwhile, has rolled out a list of news endorsements, including Lt. Gov. Michael Stack, U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, District Attorney Seth Williams and former City Controller Jonathan Saidel. “I support Tony Williams because he is the only candidate with a real plan to address the city’s most pressing issue and the issue I have championed my entire career: quality education and educational opportunities for all of Philadelphia’s children and families,” Fattah said.

— Will black voters elect a white mayor of Philadelphia? (City Paper): Philadelphia has changed a lot in recent years. But have historical voting patterns changed enough for Kenney to have a realistic chance?