Voter turnout, however, was dismal. About three in 10 registered voters cast ballots, the lowest turnout for a Philadelphia mayoral election in more than a century. Remarkably, that was a better showing than many analysts had predicted.
No matter: There were more than enough votes to put Nutter in City Hall as mayor beginning Jan. 7.
Taking the stage at a ballroom in the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel in Center City shortly after 10 last night, Nutter, 50, began his remarks by calling for a moment of silence for Police Officer Chuck Cassidy, shot to death last week, and the rest of the city's homicide victims.
He paused for a long while, then proclaimed: "It's a new day. It's a new day. It's a new day. It's a new day."
At his side were his daughter, Olivia; his son, Christian; and his wife, Lisa.
Calling himself a "proud son of Philadelphia," Nutter repeatedly used words like strength, faith, hope and together.
"Together we can lower the crime rate in this great city. We can create jobs and have economic opportunity for everybody, not just a select few," he said. "Together we can clean up City Hall, and together we can clean our neighborhoods."
Near the end of his 15-minute speech, Nutter said: "I'm ready to lead with you by my side. . . . Will you stand next to me? Will you lead with me?"
Nutter also thanked Taubenberger for running a "good, clean, solid campaign."
Before making his acceptance speech, Nutter fielded congratulatory calls from Taubenberger and Gov. Rendell, but he missed former President Bill Clinton, who was forced to leave a message on Nutter's voice mail.
Hundreds of Nutter's jubilant supporters cheered his every word in the jammed ballroom, and later danced to the sounds of a nine-piece funk band.
