LOS ANGELES (CT) - With Election Day approaching and their race in a statistical dead heat, adult contemporary rockers Daryl Hall and John Oates are campaigning hard to win the leadership of their successful duo.
Hall begins his day in Los Angeles, discussing strategy with his agent/campaign manager Joe Ghirardelli, and making speeches at several West Coast rallies. Oates plans to swing north, visiting Seattle and Portland before returning to L.A. for a $200-a-plate fundraiser featuring himself as the keynote speaker and musical guest.
The two are squaring off for the fourth time to decide leadership of Hall and Oates. The group's constitution requires that they elect a leader every four years, but as the candidates are the only eligible voters, the first three elections each ended in a tie.
Oates's platform stresses "the sweet sound of Philadelphia soul" as the key to returning Hall and Oates to chart success. His candidacy has been backed by many of the group's former associates, including onetime producer Jon Bon Jovi, who endorsed Oates at a recent campaign stop in New Jersey.
Hall originally pledged to run a "vigorous, positive campaign" but quickly went on the attack, accusing Oates of hogging the spotlight with his recent solo album, "Phunk Shui," and adding that Oates's decision in the 1990's to shave his mustache was "transparently political... a shameless attempt to cater to swing voters." Oates has denied these charges, countering that the shaving was "an example of the independent voice I will bring to the Hall and Oates leadership." A recent debate, moderated by NBC's Tim Russert, turned nasty from the opening statement, with the two nearly coming to blows after Hall called Oates a "maneater."
Polls show neither candidate has been able to gain momentum, as the race is still too close to call.
