Who Has The Mo? One Week To Ganim-Gomes Primary Redo

Here we go, one week to complete the January 23 third round, with possibly one more, to the Ganim-Gomes epic mayoral battle.

One thing we know for certain that whoever walks away with the mayoralty enjoys the initials JG.

From day one this has been an intensely personal war loaded with egos and surrogates who plainly don’t like each other. The core of the Gomes campaign centers on Ganim malcontents who were canned by the mayor, Gomes included.

That certainly has provided motivation for team Gomes to raise money and woo voters opposed to the mayor, but it also diminishes the rationale for running. Gomes is running an addition by subtraction race that could be enough, however, for Gomes to eek through with an electorate largely uninspired by either campaign, the proof in anemic turnouts with both campaigns falling far short of their respective turnout numbers.

Gomes received a manna gift when State Senator Marilyn Moore and and Finch administration official Lamond Daniels failed to qualify for the original September primary. The anti vote would have been split up, benefitting Ganim.

So one-on-one, as this will once again be next Tuesday, is the path for Gomes.

Ganim has tweaked his message in recent weeks framing this primary as a choice between a doer and divider, an incumbent’s record against Gomes alleged indiscretions that led to a boot by two mayors.

Ganim and Gomes have both worked to win over Moore and Daniels, but so far the latter two see no value siding up with either survivor.

The first two contests were close, Ganim slipping by with an absentee ballot operation that Gomes has also tried working but not with the same results.

This battle of attrition next Tuesday is likely to be another close contest. Based on the returns coming into the Town Clerk’s Office Ganim will once again win the mail vote so that places a premium on Gomes to inspire a hot walk-in vote on a cold winter’s day. Gomes insiders say that the candidate believes the third time will be the charm.

Ganim’s hoping to charm just enough votes to stay in power.

This could be very well be another jump ball.