As the mayoral campaign between Washington, D.C.'s top two Democratic candidates — Adrian Fenty and Vince Gray — heads into its last weeks, TBD will be tracking away. Herewith, all the controversy, debates, forums, issues, endorsements, statistics and killer quotes we can muster. This is the archive of the fifth day of the tracker. Read today's coverage here.

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Friday, Aug. 27, 6:12 p.m.

Are you ready to party, Ward 4?

The Ward 4 Democrats annual barbecue is scheduled to be held this weekend. TBD will be swinging by the event, but because it is a fundraiser and TBD will not be paying, TBD will also not be eating anything. That is totally fine. If TBD learned anything from this week's marathon straw poll in Ward 5, it is that TBD should start to travel with her own food. So more burgers for you.

Candidates are invited to attend the event, however don't expect them to be formally campaigning. Money collected from this weekend's barbecue will reportedly go toward voter outreach and education. Other planned activities include "Democratic fellowship, picnic fare, swimming, and fun, and to learn more about the new voting procedures for the September 14 Democratic primary election," according to an item in DCWatch's e-mail discussion. FUN.

Ward 4, as our loyal readers might recall, is A Ward To Watch. It's Fenty's home turf, the ward he represented for years as a councilmember and where he still lives. The barbecue is scheduled to be held about three miles from Fenty's Crestwood home.

TBD has been closely monitoring Ward 4 ourselves, at one point walking a route between Vince Gray's field office and Fenty's house. What we found was a split vote. Some told TBD they now felt forgotten now that Fenty had moved from councilmember to mayor, others still remained loyal.

TBD still has lots of questions for Ward 4 Dems. How often have they spotted the candidates out in their ward? Have they ripped unwanted signs or campaign material from their property? Gotten incessant robocalls? Are neighbors talking about this race? Are the lines officially drawn?

Talk to us, Ward 4. Look forward to seeing you this weekend.

— @slarimer

Friday, Aug. 27, 2:18 p.m.

Resident TBD Lister Jenny Rogers, who sits approximately 40 feet from resident TBD Fray'er Sarah Larimer, has bravely tackled today's Question of the Day: which "Sex and the City" character would Vince Gray be?

— @slarimer

Friday, Aug. 27, 1:33 p.m.

Ah, man, you guys. The Vince Gray campaign has responded to the Ron Moten Media blitz with music videos of its own.

The bad news: We can't really make fun of these videos because this is a kid. A kid in a giant T-shirt. A second grader! (Although, confidential to the Vince Gray campaign ... maybe it's not such a good idea to bill clips of a second-grade girl as "hot music videos." We probably can make fun of that.)

The good news: This surely means Ron Moten, obvious TBD source and (kinda) Fenty strategist/campaign volunteer/unsung hero, is feeling the pressure and will respond with a newer, slicker, hip-hoppier video of his own. 

Your move, Ron Moten. Your move.

 

 

— @slarimer

Friday, Aug. 27, 12:46 p.m.

More breaking news from Michelle Rhee's appearance on The Politics Hour: Confirming what Fenty told the Washington City Paper yesterday, Rhee said she has committed to stay for a second Fenty term. There had been speculation she would leave after her upcoming marriage to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. Rhee said she and Fenty had always believed it would take two terms to turn around the schools.

—@kevinrobillard

Friday, Aug. 27, 12:18 p.m.

DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee today discussed school reform in the District and the upcoming primary on The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi and Tom Sherwood.

When asked whether she felt a responsibility to D.C. public school students to maintain steady leadership in the school system, Rhee said she felt like it would be more effective to have a chancellor and a mayor who were in lockstep.

"The chairman and I have worked together for three years and I think it's very clear where we stand," she said.

She also demurred at the idea that her role in DCPS should impact voters, saying instead that the election should be about Fenty and Gray.

"These two men have very, very different philosophies about education reform," she said.

Rhee stopped short of saying that she would leave her post if Gray was elected. She has previously said that she "could not imagine doing this job without the kind of unequivocal support [Fenty] has given."

— @slarimer

Fiday, Aug. 27, 11:52 a.m.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled broadcast to direct you to another regularly scheduled broadcast. DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee (who we may or may not have mentioned is a major factor in this race) is scheduled to appear on the The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi on WAMU/88.5 right about ... now.

Listen online! (Or in your cars!)

— @slarimer

Friday, Aug. 27, 11:06 a.m.

Vince Gray's campaign has weighed in on our latest excuse to drink: Nats pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg's injury.

Via Twitter: grayformayor: Sad news. RT @welovedcsports: Stephen Strasburg has a tear in a ligament that will probably result in Tommy John surgery. #Nats"

Thanks to the Gray campaign for this expert analysis.

— @slarimer

Friday, Aug. 27, 10:09 a.m.

The Washington Post's Mike DeBonis today takes a look at the the stuff of TBD's nightmares — the possibility that this really tight, really important primary (de facto election) race might not officially be decided on election night.

DeBonis writes that because of D.C.'s same-day voter registration, officials can expect to see more more special ballots than in previous elections. They also expect a higher voter turnout.

"There may not be any hanging chads or Brooks Brothers riots here," DeBonis writes. "But there is the possibility that, more than a week after primary day, we still won't know whether Gray or Fenty won. And the result may very well be in the hands of the two-member election board."

— @slarimer

Friday, Aug. 27, 9:48 a.m.

Adrian Fenty tells Washington City Paper that he won't be switching parties to run as an independent.

"First of all, I really never get into what I would do [if I lost]… but I’m going to be honest with you, I wouldn’t do that," Fenty told City Paper.

City Paper notes Fenty is popular among the District's Republicans and his campaign has been working to identify all voters who would support the mayor, not just Democrats. Fenty recently petitioned to allow independents to vote in the Democratic primary, an effort that the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics shot down earlier this week.

— @slarimer

Friday, Aug. 27, 8:59 p.m.

The Fray is getting a later start than usual today, thanks to Roger Bernadina. Apologies for that. First up: Vince Gray's television choices.

The Washington Post on Friday wins the morning with a story about how Vince Gray has friends. However, the Post's Tim Craig totally buries the lead:

"To underline the value he places on friendship, Gray identifies 'Sex and the City' as his favorite TV series. He has seen almost every episode and can recount in great detail the fictional lives of Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha.

 'I like the relationships between the ladies,' Gray said. 'I really enjoy the friendships that they enjoy between each other. . . . The symbolism for me is their ability to support one another.'"

What's more, Craig also fails to get an answer to the most important question one must ask upon learning that Gray is a SATC fan. Which "Sex And The City" character is Vince Gray? He's probably Miranda, right? Always working, working, working! Certainly not a Samantha or a Carrie. Maybe a Charlotte. Charlotte seems like someone who would really appreciate the finer points of Robert's Rules of Order.

TBD will spend its morning debating this very question.

— @slarimer