Coverage of the advertising campaigns

The Web and spinning (10/12/99)
In a perfect world, candidates for elected office would never exaggerate, take words out of context, make unfounded accusations or play loose with numbers. But, last time we looked, politics wasn't perfect.

Attack ads have little impact (10/10/99)
Talk about a tough week. Sunday, the power went out on Brill Street. Actually, it fizzled on Carol Stewart's half of Brill Street, just as she was about to watch the mayoral debate on TV.

Katz and Street intensify negative campaign on TV and radio (10/09/99)
Tension in the mayoral contest between Democrat John F. Street and Republican Sam Katz crackled on the airwaves and over fax machines yesterday in new radio and television commercials that amounted to another sort of contest: Who's more negative - Street or Katz?

Both sides try to draw blood in close election (10/09/99)
Pull a cat's tail enough, and he'll scratch back. After several days of negative TV ads from Democratic mayoral candidate John Street, Republican foe Sam Katz swatted back yesterday with a 30-second spot accusing Street of "trying to scare voters and run a negative campaign."

Street attack (10/05/99)
 Saying "I have the strongest record of tax reduction of anybody in this city," Democratic mayoral nominee John Street yesterday assailed Republican foe Sam Katz for promising to reduce the city wage tax to 4 percent without so far offering a plan to do it.

With Sam Katz looking strong, a John Street ad changes the tone with guesswork and unsubstantiated numbers. (10/07/99)
Here comes the nasty. The advertising war in the race for mayor, a pretty civil war until now, took a decidedly negative turn yesterday with the latest 30-second television spot from Democrat John Street.

Katz ad strikes back at Street (10/06/99)
After taking a pounding from John F. Street for nine days, Sam Katz fired back yesterday in a radio commercial that accused Street of running a negative campaign for mayor.

In mayoral-race advertising, the low road remains untaken (9/30/99)
In television advertising in Philadelphia's mayoral campaign, both Democrat John F. Street and Republican Sam Katz have held pretty much to the high road - so far, at least.

New Street ad takes on Katz over education spending The spot focuses on Katz's support of school vouchers. A Katz spokesman said Street was "just throwing mud." (9/25/99)
Democratic mayoral nominee John F. Street plans to launch a "contrast" ad tomorrow that aggressively points out differences between him and Republican nominee Sam Katz on educational issues.

In mayor's race, a push to sway the swing voter New television ads are trying to show that Sam Katz and John F. Street can transcend racial and party lines. (9/24/99)
It was hard to miss. A mayor's race that has seemed so lackluster burst into the public arena yesterday. The two major candidates changed advertising strategies from soft ads about nice guys with good ideas to direct appeals to swing voters that crossed racial and party lines.

Spinning again (9/23/99)
It used to be called simply "PR" and it didn't matter much to the average voter. Today, it's called "spin" - celebrated even in a hit TV show called "Spin City" - and it's considered critical to winning elections.