Brady, the chairman of the city's Democratic Party, let it be known yesterday that he would announce his candidacy at the Convention Center on Thursday evening. Brady's campaign sent an e-mail to reporters yesterday promising that the veteran politician would be "laying out a comprehensive agenda for making the community safer, improving public schools, strengthening the economy, and lowering the tax burden for small businesses and families."

The declaration brings to five the number of Democratic primary candidates. State Rep. Dwight Evans, U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, businessman Tom Knox, and former City Councilman Michael A. Nutter are also running.

Brady's allies say the congressman's campaign will benefit from his close ties with Democratic ward leaders and other officeholders, his access to campaign cash, and his biracial appeal after years of representing a "majority-minority" congressional district in which most of the voters are African American. Brady is white. But critics note that Brady, 61, has never faced a tough election campaign.

As party leader, he has for the last two decades been in a position to dole out favors to the various squabbling factions in the Democratic caucus. Now, as a candidate facing a field full of experienced politicians, Brady will be in the somewhat unusual position of actually becoming one of those dueling factions.

The primary is May 15.