by KYW's Steve Tawa
A clearly agitated Mayor John Street was refusing to talk about his efforts on behalf of a group that is behind an advertisement attacking the apparent front-runner in next week's Democratic mayoral primary (see related story).
Reporters have been trying to follow up on word that the mayor has been helping to raise money for the anti-Nutter group.
The mayor went on a rant against the Philadelphia Inquirer for sending a reporter to knock on his door Wednesday night. That reporter had a door slammed in her face.
Street's spokesman confirms that the mayor had made fundraising calls on behalf of a so-called "527" group at the behest of Shawn Fordham, a paid consultant to the group and a top adviser to Street.
Mayor Street has had a longstanding feud with Mike Nutter, especially in the later years of Nutter's nearly 15 years in City Council.
After a public event late Thursday morning, Mayor Street would not comment on the issue:
(Reporter #1:) "Mr. Mayor, may we talk to you about other issues?"
(Street:) "Not if the Inquirer's around. I'll talk later."
(Reporter #2:) "I intend to be around, or someone for the Inquirer will."
(Street:) "I will talk about it at another time."
(Reporter #3:) "Before the election?"
(Street:) "Absolutely. I'll let you know."
The group is called "One Step Closer," and is the third "527" group to surface in the mayor's race.
As reporters pressed the mayor for answers, he shot back:
"I'll talk about it later. I reserve the right to talk about things when it's convenient for me. I have other things to do."
Moments later, he spoke to 1,600 people in the Convention Center, after which he refused again to comment to KYW, making his exit through a kitchen.
Critics say the "527" groups (named for the section of the IRS code which applies to them) are an unfair way around the city's tougher campaign spending limits law. They are not bound to the spending limits because they are not tied to a particular candidate.
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