Clout: Hey, Colbert: These are the ones to talk to

COMEDIAN

Stephen Colbert

of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" comes to Philadelphia next week for satiric reports on the Pennsylvania primary.

His guests Monday night include Mayor Nutter, John Legend, singing the "Star Spangled Banner," and Philly native and MSNBC host Chris Matthews.

But if Colbert really wants to tap into the essence of Philly politics, here's who he needs to invite:

Marge Tartaglione. This raspy-voiced legend is the woman in charge of the city's elections. She's also a tough Democratic ward leader who, in her younger days, could climb over three rows of chairs in her basement to correct a misguided committeeman. Address her as "Lady Margaret," since she has been so honored by the Ecumenical Hospitaller Order of St. John Knights of Malta.

Carol Ann Campbell. Secretary of the city's Democratic Party, former councilwoman and heir to a political legacy. Campbell has always fought for what she calls "the little people," even holding up an $82 million trolley project so her neighbors could continue to park illegally.

Jimmy Tayoun. If anyone embodies the essence of a Philadelphia politician, it is this man. His career path has been a template for countless pols: He began as a reformer, won election, became part of the machine and went to jail. Now publisher of the political weekly The Philadelphia Record.

Milton Street. The city's most colorful pol. He wrestled on the floor of City Council. He lived in a tent on the grounds of the state Capitol. He scored a $30,000-a-month consulting contract to an airport vendor when his brother, John Street, was mayor. He wheeled a coffin in front of City Hall as a prop to launch an aborted campaign to succeed his brother as mayor. He didn't bother to file income-tax returns and was convicted in federal court.

Mayoral wannabes: Prez choices

The announcement yesterday by 2007 mayoral primary candidate Tom Knox that he's endorsing Barack Obama for president got us to wondering about the rest of the seven-member field from last year's spring election season.

Here's the list:

_ U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah. Early Obama supporter. In fact, Obama endorsed Fattah for mayor and was featured on a Fattah campaign poster.

_ Mayor Nutter. Some say Obama's endorsement of Fattah is why Nutter is backing Hillary Clinton. Nutter denies it, but his prediction last year - before the Obama endorsement - that Obama would be our next president kind of makes you wonder.

_ U.S. Rep. Bob Brady. Neutral, but likely to end up with Obama. Brady is chairman of Democratic City Committee, which decided not to endorse anyone, forcing Brady to remain neutral. But Brady has said he'll support whomever the voters in his district favor, and it seems certain that Obama will win there.

_ State Rep. Dwight Evans. Also neutral, according to his aide Kim Turner. Evans was supposed to call us, but didn't.

_ Queena Bass. The outspoken advocate for the rights of people abused by landlords and large insititutions says she's for Obama. "The speech he gave about racism is what I believe as well," Bass said.

_ Jesus White. Philadelphia's first homeless candidate for mayor couldn't be reached. An attendant at the Ridge Avenue Men's Shelter, White's last known address, said, "He hasn't been here for a long while."

Sandwich primary

Usually we're immune to cheap publicity stunts, but DiBruno Bros., at 17th and Chestnut, hooked us with their sandwich poll.

They've created sandwiches named after the two Democratic presidential candidates, the Barack Bratwurst and the Hillary Big City Sandwich.

In a close race, customers yesterday ordered more of the Hillary than the Barack, but the lead changes daily. The contest runs through primary day, April 22.

Here are the results of our taste test:

The Barack Bratwurst. A juicy pork brat with melted cheese and Kobe beef chili, served on a Chicago-style poppy-seed bun.

Our verdict: Is it pork? Is it beef? It's a mix of both. We found it instantly likeable, fresh and exciting. But we wondered about the substance. Just because it tastes good doesn't mean it's good for you.

The Hillary Big City Sandwich: Pastrami, pickled tomatoes, green olive tapenade, shaved onion, Swiss cheese and spicy New York-style mustard on pumpernickel.

Our verdict: Way too ambitious. The clash of flavors will strike some tastebuds as shrill. But this is solid and sophisticated fare and more attractive than it sounds.

Obama-Clinton ticket

There will be an Obama-Clinton ticket.

But it's not what you're thinking.

The Democratic rivals will attend a VIP fundraiser for Democratic City Committee Monday evening. Price of the ticket: $1,000. Hillary Clinton will be there from 6 to 7 and Barack Obama from 7 to 8.

The event will be held in a tent on the grounds of the Sheet Metal Workers Hall on Columbus Boulevard. Inside the hall, ward leaders and committee people will be holding their annual Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner and pep rally. Clinton and Obama can be expected to drop by the main hall before leaving, party officials say.

Clinton nabes for Obama

TV producer Fred Silverman (no, not that Fred Silverman - the former network mogul is retired in L.A.) lives in Bedford Hills, N.Y., a few miles from Bill and Hillary Clinton in Chappaqua.

Tomorrow morning he and about 100 other "Hillary's Neighbors for Obama" are busing down the Jersey Turnpike to knock on doors in Montgomery County.

"Who knows you better than your neighbors?" Silverman said. "We all live within a few miles of the Clintons. Some a couple blocks away."

Do the Clintons put their trash out early? Play loud music until all hours?

"No, they're not nasty, mean horrible people," Silverman said. "We just don't think they're the right people to run the country."

The neighbors will start their day with a pep rally led by Caroline Kennedy. *

Staff writers Gar Joseph and Dave Davies contributed to this report.