The latest in Philly involves Frank Keel, publicist for the plugged-in (and, we're told, voter intimidation-inclined) electrician's union, interrupting a press conference by the mute Tommy the Loan Shark and his talking friend in which the two semi-pro harassers of mayoral candidate Tom Knox were accusing the electrician's union of sending thugs to harass them. Keel comes in and claims that the man and shark so harassed are in fact paid operatives of rival candidate Bob Brady, which turns out to be true, as a Brady operative has since resigned after admitting to setting up the 527 to fund the Knox-knocking to the tune of a million dollars.

And why was Keel sharing this information by confronting a man in a shark suit in the middle of a press conference? Surely, to maintain the dignity of this election.

It gets better. Keel also claimed the man behind the shark mask is a member of the Pagans motorocycle gang, a member of the electricians' rivals in the carpenters union and, most stunning, from New Jersey.

One blogger has an excellent summary—"Basically, the mayor's race today has now included references to the following: An anthropomorphic shark, the Pagans, $500 under the table payments, thugs and a mysterious gray van following the shark mascot's handler. I love Philadelphia."

Here's the audio, filled with lines considered but rejected for a second-rate noir. It begins with the shark's talking friend going after Knox and claiming he's been harassed by shady union characters while innocently smoking cigars outside of his apartment, and really gets going once Keel shows up at about the four minute mark. Keep in mind there's a man standing in a shark suit as all this goes on, and that once Keel asks him to take off the mask, the reporters are holding microphones up to the shark.