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Charlotte, NC
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Local News Story
Foxx and Lassiter work phones, polls in closing hours of tight mayor's race
CHARLOTTE, 11.03.2009
CHRIS MILLER, WBT NEWS
The final hours of the closest mayor's race in recent memory looks much like the previous eleven months.
Anthony Foxx and John Lassiter worked the phones and hit the streets today, hoping to squeeze out a little more support in what's been a dead-even election.
"Today is the voters' day," Foxx told WBT NEWS this morning after casting his vote at First Ward Elementary. "It's an opportunity for all the people of Charlotte to express what they want in their next leader."
Lassiter told reporters he felt his campaign had done everything it could do to secure victory. Still, Lassiter said an army of volunteers would be out at polling places this afternoon.
"We know what it's going to take to make it happen," Lassiter said.
The latest polling numbers in the race showed Lassiter building a small lead over Foxx, but it was still within the margin of error. Monday's survey by Public Policy Polling had Lassiter at 50 percent, Foxx at 46 percent.
The poll said undecided voters were splitting along racial lines, with whites going for Lassiter and blacks going for Foxx.
Reports from across the city indicate a steady stream of voters. The county elections office predicted a turnout of 27-percent.
"That's a good sign," elections director Michael Dickerson told WBT NEWS.
One voter told WBT NEWS he felt the race was close because of the diverse electorate.
"There's just so many people that have different ideas," he said.
Democrats are hoping today's vote will end their 22-year drought. Not since then-Mayor Harvey Gantt's loss to Sue Myrick in 1987 has a Democrat occupied the mayor's office. Republicans have had a lock on the office since then.
One glaring abscence from today's ballot - Pat McCrory, who is leaving the mayor's office after 14 years on the job.
Comments
dbryceman
Nov 3, 2009
I do not vote in Charlotte, but it would probably help to let people know the political affiliation of the two candidates mentioned in the article.
TheEqualizer
Nov 3, 2009
Defeat the irresponsible democRat machine!
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