Nutter endorses McElhatton for D.A. Last-minute support comes in form of robocalls

With just four days left before Tuesday's primary election, Mayor Nutter has endorsed a candidate for district attorney - his former colleague in City Council, Dan McElhatton.

If you're a registered Democrat in Philadelphia, you may have already heard from the mayor, via telephone robocall.

"I served with Dan on City Council and I know he has the experience, independence and toughness we need in our next D.A.," Nutter says in recorded calls to thousands of households. "Dan McElhatton is getting my vote because our city needs a D.A. who's ready on Day One."

It's a safe bet that McElhatton wanted to get Nutter's endorsement earlier, and would have preferred a public news conference with the mayor, instead of flattering words in a recorded announcement.

But it's still the public backing of the city's top elected official, in a crowded field of five candidates. Turnout for the primary is expected to be light, giving significance to any developments that could shift votes in any direction.

"We're very pleased to have the mayor's endorsement and we'll use it to the best of our ability for the next 96 hours," said McElhatton's campaign manager, Anthony Ingargiola.

Two other candidates for D.A. have gotten the bulk of the pre-election endorsements.

Seth Williams is backed by the Black Clergy, a long list of elected officials, the Inquirer, the Fraternal Order of Police and several other unions.

Dan McCaffery has a longer list of unions in his corner, particularly among the construction trades.

Democratic ward leaders - particularly important in a low-turnout race - are split mostly between Williams and McCaffery.

But Nutter's backing for McElhatton could prove important among more independent voters, who swung the mayoral election to Nutter in 2007.

Nutter and McElhatton served together on Council from 1992 through 1995, and McElhatton provided critical support for Nutter's first legislative initiative, establishing a Police Advisory Commission to consider complaints about the police force.

The two other candidates for D.A. are Michael Turner, a lawyer specializing in commercial litigation for the past 23 years, and Brian Grady, a defense attorney with his own private practice.

All five are carrying heavy public schedules until Election Day.

McCaffery, who established a home-equity line of credit to contribute $200,000 to his campaign, is the only one putting commercials onto broadcast TV, though others have made smaller buys on cable.

The size of McCaffery's personal donations triggered a doubling of the city's contribution limits for all the candidates. The limits are now $5,200 for individuals and $20,600 for political-action committees.

The Republican candidate, Michael Untermeyer, is running unopposed. *