With just six weeks to go before the 2005 mayoral election, Steve Francis looked the part of an also-ran.
One opinion poll showed him earning just 3 percent of residents' support, placing him far behind two of the city's more recognizable public servants, Councilwoman Donna Frye and former police Chief Jerry Sanders.
But Francis, who was largely unknown outside of business and conservative political circles, had armed himself with international political consultants. He flooded local television broadcasts with sleek commercials.
