Pennsylvania: Michael Nutter

A political icon went to trial. A new Philadelphia mayor was installed and lauded, only to see the financial crisis crimp his plans. For a few weeks, the Keystone State was the center of the political universe. And of course, there were indictments galore, and a new "-gate" suffix to go along with the taxpayer bonuses allegedly handed out like candy for campaign work.

For the second time in as many days, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter took his case for federal assistance for cash-strapped cities to the national airwaves.

Speaking on MSNBC Tuesday afternoon, only hours after auto company executives were on Capitol Hill asking for a bailout, Nutter emphasized that cities like Philadelphia were asking only for "access to capital," not outright giveaways.

It also puts people back to work, he said.

Gov. Ed Rendell doesn't see a racial tone in John McCain's campaign attacks, but he has another, far more simple critique of the GOP nominee's struggling campaign.

In a year without local elections, all the talk in Philadelphia City Hall is focused on the controversey over Councilman Wilson Goode Jr. and his embattled aide Latrice Bryant.

Ever since Bryant accused a Fox29 reporter who exposed her inaccurate timesheets of being a racist, Goode has been under fire for his response to the situation.

But count Mayor Michael Nutter out of this conversation.