By Keegan Gibson and Nicole Houck

With the polls closing in a matter of hours, Chelsa Wagner, George Matta, and Valerie McDonald Roberts are all giving a final push in today’s showdown.

State Rep. Wagner is probably the front-runner. She has the family name, the money, and the has been running the most active voter outreach effort. She raised over $130,000 – more than twice her opponents as of the most recent campaign finance report – and it’s paying off. Wagner is the only candidate in the race who can boast a significant presence on TV (McDonald Roberts spent a few thousand on a handful of ad spots).

Not to mention, Wagner’s support from the Allegheny Dems and virtually every local labor union will probably allow her more resources for getting out the vote and cover polls. If turnout in her base in the South Hills is as expected, she should pull out the win.

McDonald Roberts is not far behind. She’s had positive momentum in the past weeks, culminating in an endorsement by the Post-Gazette. She’s counting on big turnout in the City, especially among her African American base in Churchill, Wilkinsburg and their surroundings. If her supporters come out to vote, and if Matta does better than expected, she could eek out a win today.

George Matta is in a tough spot tomorrow. His base is in the Monongahela Valley, but past campaigns there have left some observers wondering how many will pull the lever for him. A PoliticsPA poll conducted earlier in the race showed him trailing both opponents by double digits, and since then he hasn’t had too many resources to spread his message – save a ton of angry letters to the Post-Gazette (see below). He’s been on the radio, but he’s in third place in the ad war.  Ruling out a brutal last-minute hit piece or unexpected swing of undecideds, the casino executive is facing long odds.

Nasty campaign

The race has been defined, more than anything, by passive aggressive exchanges on the pages of the Post-Gazette.

Matta and Wagner have been butting heads in the press. Matta called out State Representative Wagner for her spotty attendance during legislative votes. Wagner responded to Matta ad via radio attributing her missed votes to the fact that she is a new mother, and gave birth during session. The Matta campaign wasted no time shooting out a press release last Friday responding to Wagner and calling her “excuse offensive to working mothers everywhere.”

“My mother and my wife both worked while having children and raising families. I know how difficult it is to balance those challenges. I have great respect for all women, and I have proven that in my own business, in the companies I’ve worked for, and as a city controller, mayor and clerk of courts,” said Matta.

Regardless, Wagner seems to be content to continue using the angle of motherhood to her advantage, as can be seen in this video ad. In addition to looking for the support of mothers, Wagner has also been appealing to labor audiences. She has been endorsed by several labor groups such as Allegheny County Labor Council, Pittsburgh, Building and Construction Trades Council, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, United Mine Workers of America, Laborer’s District Council of Western PA, Greater Pennsylvania Regional Council of Carpenters, United Steelworkers of America, District 10, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #5, International Union of Operating, Engineers Local #66, Ironworkers Local #3, Amalgamated Transit Union Local #85, Steamfitters Local #449, Plumbers Local #27. She has also been endorsed by the Allegheny County Democratic Committee.

Matta has been playing the experience card throughout his campaign. He has been touting his prior work in local government, as well as his experience in the local business sector. Matta’s endorsements include Teamsters Joint Council 40, Allegheny County Constables Association, Firearms Owners Against Crime, Eastern Region Democratic Organization (ERDO), and Boilermakers.

Valerie McDonald Roberts has also upped the ante in her campaign with several ringing endorsements from influence bearing sources, the most well known nod coming form current County Exec Dan Onorato. Additionially, she has been endorsed by 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club Pennsylvania, National Organization for Women (NOW), Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh, African American Women for Political Change.

Roberts’ nod from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette set off its own controversies, including a fiery response from Matta.

“In the Post-Gazette’s endorsement for the Allegheny County controller race (“Roberts for the Dems,” May 5), the PG took great effort criticizing me. Let’s clear the record,” Matta wrote. He followed by explaining his criticism of Roberts’s and Wagner’s familial political ties.

“The other two candidates, Chelsa Wagner and Valerie McDonald Roberts, have far stronger ties to the world of politics through their families. Both use those relationships unabashedly in promoting themselves, Ms. Wagner through her father, uncle and aunt; Ms. Roberts, through her late father, a former Pittsburgh ward leader.”

Matta ended with more criticism of Wagner’s legislative attendance.

And the PG endorsement is the gift that keeps on giving to political watchers. Just this weekend, Wagner used quotes from the endorsement article forone of her mailings, but (obviously) didn’t mention that in the end, Roberts was given the endorsement over her.

The folks at North Pittsburgh Politics blog (who support McDonald Roberts) have a copy of the mailing, and dinged Wagner for it yesterday.

But like the general state of this race, more voters likely read that mailer than read the paper or political blogs – or material from Wagner’s opponents, for that matter.