'Presumptive winner' mantle fits Nutter easily

Midway through a town hall meeting with Michael Nutter last week, Councilman Frank DiCicco turned to the Democratic nominee and addressed him as "Mr. Mayor."

Nobody in the crowd of 300 flinched. And why would they?

The election may still be 15 days away, but Nutter - the overwhelming favorite - is already carrying himself and wielding power like a mayor-elect. In the last six weeks, Nutter has bent City Council to his will on key legislation, met as an equal with the mayors of major cities, and called on Philadelphians to leave the private sector for public service.

"It's not really a government-in-waiting, but it's about as close to that as you can get," said Kevin Feeley, who was spokesman for former Mayor Ed Rendell.

Nutter and his staff repeat ad nauseam that the election isn't over, and they constantly tell their supporters to take nothing for granted.

But Nutter now is clearly trying to do much more than simply win. He is trying to lead. And observers approvingly say that the wonkish former city councilman's bearing and public persona is evolving as he grows into a job that's not quite yet his.

At the town hall meeting last week, for instance, Nutter set aside his inner geek and spoke with a passion and fervor that thrilled the crowd of 300.

"When we were younger, we didn't need a law, we didn't need a bill, we didn't need a resolution, we didn't need a government to tell us: 'Come outside and sweep your steps, wash down your sidewalk, and make your neighborhoods clean,' " Nutter said, in the style of a preacher or prairie populist.

"We didn't need anybody to tell us that because we cared. About where we lived, and who we were and what we were about. We need to bring that back, a sense of community pride, a sense of ownership, a sense of caring about each other. We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers. We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers."

Nutter and his campaign staff are hardly neglecting the election itself.

He has kept up a relentless schedule of appearances. Nutter television ads will run soon, aides said, and volunteers continue to work phone banks each night and ring doorbells on the weekends.

But political observers say Nutter's more important work in recent months has been to heal rifts created during the May primary, build political relationships he will need if elected, and plan for his administration.

Still left on his to-do list: ensure a decent Election Day turnout to boost the fortunes of the party's judicial candidates, and maintain a sense of momentum and enthusiasm at a time when most voters aren't paying much attention to local races.

And to do it all, of course, without appearing too presumptuous.

"As a constituent, I would expect that this guy is getting prepared to hit the ground running," said Nutter campaign manager Tricia Enright, acknowledging that the objectives in this race - unlike others - aren't just to win.

"It would be a little irresponsible for him not to think about what he would do, or how would he govern," she said.

Even if Nutter were inclined to put off planning for his administration until Nov. 7, he might not be able to.

"Behind the scenes, there is tremendous pressure already to sort of take charge, or at least weigh in on issues that people are concerned about, such as the budget, the police commissioner, promotions in the Police Department," Feeley said.

Like other political observers interviewed last week, Feeley said Nutter had handled the balancing act well.

"He is impressing people, and it is the same feeling that I got when Ed was running," Feeley said.

In Harrisburg last week, a Nutter fund-raiser at a local wine bar, the Red Door, was attended not only by Philadelphia-area lawmakers but also by several of Gov. Rendell's cabinet members. Among them were Budget Secretary Michael Masch, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DeBardinis, Welfare Secretary Estelle Richman, Deputy Health Secretary Joanne Grossi, and Policy Director Donna Cooper.

"He is building a foundation and establishing credibility - and that can pay dividends," Harrisburg lobbyist Rocco Pugliese noted.

Nutter is also being given high marks for expanding his base of support.

"He's going to people who supported other candidates, asking for their help financially, seeking their ideas," said Marc Stier, a political organizer and former City Council candidate. "The Democratic Party is a very diverse group and nobody has a bad word to say about him anymore."

Or, as public relations executive and former Mayor Street campaign adviser Bruce Crawley puts it: "This is one of the few campaigns when everyone will be able to say, 'I was with the winner.' "

But most important, political observers said, was the change in Nutter himself.

"When he speaks now, it's with a tone that he knows that he's accountable for what he says," political consultant Larry Ceisler said. "He is not spewing campaign rhetoric. He's talking like a mayor."