We're two-and-a-half week away from Election Day in the New Orleans mayor's race and only four days away from the start of early voting. This week, the major candidates in the race are taking part in two televised debates.
Will those debates do anything to change the minds of voters this close? One analyst says: it's possible.
"They have the potential to swing things one of two ways," JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon says.
According to Couvillon, a candidate could win over truly undecided voters who watch these debates. On the flip side, Couvillon notes that a candidate who makes a major gaffe could lose voters. Couvillon says front-runner Helena Moreno must avoid one of those faux pas.
"She just wants to make sure she doesn't do or say anything that might offend people," Couvillon said.
As for the candidates trailing behind Moreno, Couvillon believes they must prove that they have the ability to be a good mayor... but also the ability to win the race.
"You have to show that you're capable of kind of standing toe-to-toe with (Moreno) either on election night and/or on runoff night if there were one," Couvillon said.
According to Couvillon, Royce Duplessis and Oliver Thomas will have a tough time gaining additional voters.
"The two of them, in my opinion, are engaged in a zero-sum game with each other," Couvillon said. "Both of them are pulling form the same voter base, so it's kind of like they have to define themselves as being better than the other guy."
That, Couvillon says, now forces each to prove to voters that he is better than his rival.
"Their main task is showing that they are capable of being the main runoff competitor against Helena Moreno as opposed to directly going after Helena herself," Couvillon said.
As for the Republican in the race, Frank Janusa, Couvillon doesn't expect him to move the needle.
"In a solidly Democratic city like New Orleans, it's difficult for a Republican to gain any traction," Couvillon said.
Early voting begins Saturday and continues through the following Saturday. Election Day is October 11.