Poll Favored Fenty in Mayor's Race

It's an awkward time in the D.C. mayor's race. All five major candidates are racing to amass the biggest pile of cash before they must reveal the fruits of their fundraising labors to the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance on Jan. 31. The candidate with the biggest war chest is likely to get a morale boost, as well as a nudge in the conventional-wisdom rankings.

Until then, political observers have very little objective information about the state of the mayoral campaign. Except for this juicy tidbit:

A citywide poll conducted by Bethesda-based Potomac Inc. for the Greater Washington Board of Trade's political action committee showed D.C. Council member Adrian M. Fenty (D-Ward 4) clobbering everybody, including council Chairman Linda W. Cropp (D), when it was taken in early September.

The poll of 800 likely Democratic voters is more than 4 months old, having been conducted around the time Cropp entered the race and before incumbent Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) announced that he would not run again. The ground has no doubt shifted substantially since then.

But the survey, the first independent poll to become public in the 2006 campaign, mirrors at least three others commissioned by potential mayoral candidates last year. And the fact that a survey commissioned by the city's premier business organization came out so well for Fenty, who is perceived to be the least business-friendly candidate in the race, also is attracting attention.

A copy of the poll reviewed by The Washington Post shows that Fenty led all other candidates. Cropp trailed, and council member Vincent B. Orange Sr. (D-Ward 5), lobbyist Michael A. Brown and former telecommunications executive Marie C. Johns all registered in the low single digits. A huge block of potential voters -- 32 percent -- described themselves as undecided. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percent.

The surprising part is where the mayor's supporters said they would go if he did not run. According to the survey, Fenty, one of the mayor's sharpest critics, would pick up nearly a third of them, while Cropp, one of the mayor's closest allies, got another third. Most of the rest fell to the undecided column.

Robert A. Peck , who left his job as Board of Trade president Jan. 1, said the group commissioned the poll to help business groups develop a campaign strategy. The board was heartened to find that most voters -- 62 percent, according to survey -- believe the city is headed in the "right direction" under Williams, Peck said. The defeat of three pro-business council members in 2004 had made board leaders a little nervous.

As for Fenty, "he comes across as an attractive, intelligent young man who, in some ways, people think is a natural successor to Anthony Williams, only more personable," Peck said. "Obviously, if that's what Adrian really were, people in the business community would be thrilled."

Another Job Prospect for Bobb?

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First, City Administrator Robert C. Bobb was rumored to be trolling for jobs elsewhere, an assertion he has repeatedly denied. Then, Bobb reportedly was considering a run for mayor. Also not true, he has said time and again.

Now, according to the latest intelligence gathered by NBC 4 political reporter Tom Sherwood , Bobb is thinking about running to replace Cropp as D.C. Council chairman.

At the mayor's news conference last week, Sherwood mentioned the possibility of a council campaign, then asked Bobb, "I'm just wondering: What universe are you not looking at?"

An exasperated Bobb smiled and paused for a beat.

"Earth," he said.

Mischief From a Lame Duck

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Williams, meanwhile, opened the year in unusually fine spirits, despite the continuing crisis surrounding his proposal to build a new baseball stadium.

At last week's news conference, the mayor mugged through a demonstration of exercises for busy, desk-bound types. Then he responded to questions about a growing exodus of administration officials by cheerfully mocking his lame-duck status.

Asked whether he faces the prospect of losing key people over the coming year, the mayor said: "From my pond here in the reflecting pool? I hang out now with other ducks."

The briefing room erupted in laughter.

"Quack! Quack!" the mayor said. "I should write a 'from the pond' column."

Williams noticed his communications director, Vince Morris , smiling but mortified on the sidelines. "Vince doesn't like it because he wants me to maintain the majesty of my position," Williams joked.

Sherwood tried to return to the topic at hand, asking whether Williams fears he'll lose too many people too fast.

"Because you've heard the announcement in the Wilson Building, right?" the mayor said. He cupped his hands around his mouth: "Do not rush to the exits. Please."

The room convulsed again.

"In all seriousness . . . I think you are going to see some people leaving, not so much because I've decided I'm not going to run again, but because people have been through a lot of wear and tear over the years," Williams said. "But I think, by and large, you're going to see our administration intact right through the next year, continuing to do important things."