[img]1574|left|Kevin James||no_popup[/img]They could have been father and son on their way to lunch in the Fairfax District.
Fresh-faced Los Angeles mayoralty candidate Kevin James and former Mayor Dick Riordan roamed the crowded labyrinthine aisles of the Farmers Market at 1:30 this afternoon, in search of votes and voters on the last full campaigning day before tomorrow’s primary election.
Even though he will turn 83 years old later in the spring, Mr. Riordan, tan trousers, blue shirt and orange sweater wrapped about his shoulders, remains eminently recognizable a dozen years after leaving City Hall.
“Hi, I am Kevin, I am running for mayor, and this is Mayor Riordan,” went the shpiel of the accessible 49-year-old Mr. James, a Huckleberry Finn lookalike and the lone Republican contender in the field of five.
Hours to go before the two finalists are decided tomorrow night for the May 21 runoff, Mr. James is convinced,not just confident but positive, he will qualify for the next round against either City Councilman Eric Garcetti or City Controller Wendy Greuel.
Both are slightly ahead of him in polls that are being debated for their validity, but the James campaign counters that Los Angeles voters are so segmented, with a large number of undecideds that polling is highly questionable.
The first question at this afternoon’s press conference was a juicy one:
“The Times poll shows you down by seven points. Isn’t it going to be an uphill battle?”
Upon Further Inspection
“Not at all,” said the candidate. “The Times poll and the new ABC-7 poll that is just out has me squarely in third place, now even farther ahead of Ms. (Jan) Perry.
“What is key about that poll is you still have a large number undecided. And 46 percent said they could be persuaded to change their vote between now and Election Day.
“The Times poll also said only one candidate has enthusiastic support, and that candidate, of course, is me.
“Our base is solid. Their bases are shaky. That is where, when people realize there is a viable alternative, we will make up the ground.”
What Coverage?
While many have noted that the Los Angeles Times only has discovered the race in the past 30 days, and Mr. James acknowledged the light coverage until the final moments. However, as he spoke, he was encircled by television and still cameras, and even journalists.
“I have been through 42 (candidate) debates,” Mr. James said, “and I look forward to the next chapter in this campaign. I do believe there will be a runoff, and I look forward to debating whomever my opponent is, one-on-one, where we can delve into the issues in much more detail.
His campaign believes a relatively modest 95,000 votes will jump Mr. James into the runoff.
“We are a day away from the election,” he said, “and now is the time to talk to voters and let them know that the frustration they have felt, they can relieve tomorrow, between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. If you have an absentee ballot, do not mail it in. There is no guarantee it will make it to the polls in time to be counted. Carry it to any polling place. It doesn’t have to be yours.”
“You can hold these elected officials accountable every four years, and tomorrow is the opportunity to do so.
“I want to encourage everyone to not only go out and vote yourself, take your friends, your family, your neighbors, your colleagues, anyone you know willing to listen to you, to go out and vote.
“It is a low-turnout race,” and even those rivals who fear or mock Mr. James, will agree with him.
He said when people ask him why so few voters participate, “I tell them it is because so many feel City Hall has left them behind. This is the opportunity to turn all of that around.
