The two mayoral candidates have distinctive ways of filling their days when they aren't at forums or picking up endorsements or raising funds.

For basic-level campaigning between other events, John F. Street's trademark approach is the Polaroid Posse, perfected at dozens of busy transit stops or other high-traffic spots.

Yesterday afternoon, the Posse swooped down on the corner of Eighth and Market Streets near rush hour. Aides had six or eight Polaroid One Step cameras at the ready, while deputy field director Mannwell Glenn played the barker on the bullhorn:

"Go cheek to cheek with John Street! Get a free picture of you with the next mayor! Take it with you into the voting booth! The guy you actually met! The guy you actually touched!"

Commuters hurrying for the Market-Frankford El barely had to break stride. A quick embrace, a flash of light - the Posse processed 18 potential voters in just one 60-second period. Glenn said the Posse had passed out 121,000 photos by last weekend.

Some voters grinned for the camera; many more looked like deer in the headlights. All had a souvenir and conversation piece.

Sam Katz, by contrast, usually works crowds alone and certainly without a bullhorn.

For what might otherwise be down time, he has favored making the rounds at meetings or events with no specific connection to the race. He methodically worked the tables at the nonpolitical "Breakfast With the Rendells" sponsored by the Peoples' Emergency Center, shaking hands and chatting before the event got underway. Last night, he planned to stop by the 80th anniversary of the Original I. Goldberg's store at Ninth and Chestnut Streets.

"These are not unscripted events, where we just walk in and crash somebody else's parties," said Bob Barnett, Katz's media representative. Katz is either invited or asks permission ahead of time.

Interfaith group lashes out at Street

It's not news that Street's campaign has upset a number of groups and individuals by failing to respond to requests of one kind or another. But few have expressed their anger as publicly and in such detail as Philadelphia Interfaith Action did with a news release this week.

The multiracial, multifaith group of more than 40 churches, synagogues and other organizations began in July to invite both candidates to a forum that was ultimately held on Oct. 7.

The release documents what the group says is the history of contact with both candidates. While Katz promptly agreed to the forum date and met at least five times with representatives, Philadelphia Interfaith says that the Street campaign repeatedly failed to return phone calls or respond to the forum invitation, and gives dates for each letter or phone call.

Finally, on the day of the forum, the group says, Street's campaign called "to ask, 'Is there something going on tonight that mayoral candidates are supposed to be at?' "

Street did attend but was 30 minutes late, the group says. Street's media representative, Ken Snyder, said he did not know the specifics, but apologized if there was a miscommunication.

"The truth is we're invited to more [events] than Sam Katz by far," he said. "We try to do everything we can."

Finding distinction for 102d mayor

None of them has been a woman, of course, but beyond that, the historian has to ransack the record books. Sam Katz would be the first Jewish mayor born in Philadelphia. Ed Rendell was born in New York. John Street is from Norristown, which would make him the first mayor to hail from a city named for a Philadelphia mayor (Isaac Norris served in 1724).

Street would also possess the first mayoral beard since Rudolph Blankenburg (1911-1916). W. Wilson Goode has been sporting a goatee and mustache recently but was clean-shaven in office.

If the official portraits of about 40 mayors hanging in the Mayor's Reception Room of City Hall are to be believed, the last facial hair in office was the mustache cultivated by J. Hampton Moore (1920-24 and 1932-36). Full beards are rare; the only documented examples besides Blankenburg's adorned the faces of Edward H. Fitler (1887-91) and John Morin Scott (1841-44).