Hamilton mayoral candidates make a last-minute push for Monday's vote

It's a row of large newer homes on a Hamilton Mountain suburban street, and mayoral candidate Vito Sgro is sprinting.

He runs from door to door, flyers in hand. When it looks like someone is home, Sgro goes to the door with Bob Bratina, Liberal MP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. When the home looks empty, one of Sgro's volunteers hits it.

When someone does answer, Sgro launches into his primary platform issue.

"The main issue for me is the LRT," he says, referring to a planned light rail transit system from McMaster University to Eastgate Square. "I'm not for that. I think that'll be very bad for Hamilton."

In Stoney Creek, meanwhile, incumbent mayoral candidate Fred Eisenberger does the same thing. He's door knocking, hand shaking, and placing signs that say "Fred for Mayor."

Later at a city hall Diwali celebration, Eisenberger saidhe plans to do "main streeting" all weekend.

"We may end up doing some waving at some corners, which is a tradition for us every election," he said.

"There's lots to do, and you have to keep your energy up and keep working for every vote."

There's a lot at stake this weekend. The two main mayoral candidates will criss-crossthe city with special focus on its suburban wards and hit events. They'll shake hands, hand out flyers and plant signs in a last-ditch scramble for votes on Monday. Sgro is also holding a telephone town hall Sunday and robocalling 100,000 people with invites.

Their campaigns couldn't be more different. Eisenberger's message has focused on jobs, the economy and his record as mayor. Hesupports LRT, and the province has committed $1 billion so Metrolinxcan hire a consortium to design, build, finance, operate and maintain it.

The Ford government has said Hamilton can have the $1 billion forLRT, or if it chooses, other approved transit and/or infrastructure.Sgro'scampaign has focused on what else he'd like to do with the money, including runningmore city-wide express buses and widening RymalRoad.

Both campaigns have picked up speed in recent days. A Forum Research survey suggests they're neck-and-neck. Eisenberger says his campaign polls show otherwise, although he won't elaborate.

A week ago, Sgropaid for an airplane to fly his "no LRT" message on a banner over the city. Five sitting city councillorshave endorsed him, largely on his promise to vote against LRTand for maintaining area rating. Bratina, who Sgro has managed campaigns for, also endorsed him too.

Eisenbergerbrought out some heavy hitters of his own this week, including NDPMPsScott Duvall and David Christopherson, some union endorsements, and on Friday, Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath.

Both candidates found their audiences Saturday.

Gerry Falletta, a Chappel East resident who practices law downtown, liked Sgro's message about killing the LRT.

"I don't know everybody's platforms, but I think Vito's done a really good job letting people know the train is the No. 1issue," he said. "And I agree with that. I don't think it's going to help downtown."

Sowmya Shivaswamyof west Hamilton shook hands with Eisenberger at the Diwali event. She wants LRT "not all of us have cars" but it's not her biggest concern.

"I think it's the housing issue," she said."I feel like what we're earning is less compared to housing prices, which have increased a lot. Buying a new house or owning a new house is one of the issues I feel needs to be looked at."