I’m here, live from the Newseum, for what may be the final mayoral debate before the September 14 Democratic primary. Co-hosted by the Washington Post, NBC4 and WAMU 88.5 FM, the debate is a one-on-one match-up between Mayor Adrian Fenty and D.C. Council Chair Vince Gray. The Post’s Eugene Robinson will moderate, while the Post’s Nikita Stewart, NBC 4’s Tom Sherwood and WAMU’s Patrick Madden will pose questions to the candidates. If my live-blogging isn’t exciting enough, you can stream the debate live here; it will also be re-broadcast on WAMU later today and on NBC4 tomorrow at noon.
It should be an interesting debate — gone are the usual hanger-ons that suck up valuable time, and it comes only days after a Post poll found Fenty is trailing Gray by as much as 17 points. Additionally, the Post reports today that Fenty’s campaign is changing strategies, looking to focus in on results to energize his base, humanize the mayor by talking about his upbringing in the District and continue attacking Gray’s ethics and honesty.
Minute-by-minute updates, after the jump.
Martin Austermuhle