New In The Phoenix -- Flaherty Pulling Punches?

In this week's issue of the Boston Phoenix -- in print tomorrow, online now -- I size up the mayoral race as we head to the home stretch. I find that even though all the insiders and pundits think Michael Flaherty is far behind Tom Menino and needs to throw some desperation haymakers, that's not how the Flaherty campaign sees it. 

I also look at two key demographics for Flaherty: African-American voters, and young, relatively new-to-Boston professionals.

The article is here: Holding His Punches.

As you'll see in the article, the Flaherty campaign believes that the race is much closer than the 20-point Menino lead reported in last Sunday's Boston Globe. I blogged about that difference when the Globe story first went public late last Saturday evening. I later learned that my comments had either raised a bit of a flap, or gone to war with the Globe, or whatever phrase you prefer. I didn't really intend to start any trouble, but, oh well.

Also in this issue, the Phoenix endorses John Connolly, Stephen Murphy, Ayanna Pressley, and Felix Arroyo for at-large City Council. That editorial is here.