New In The Phoenix -- At-Large Final Four

In this week's issue of the Boston Phoenix -- in print tomorrow, online now -- I analyze the at-large Boston City Council race coming out ofthe preliminary election, which narrowed the field to eight. I find that local politicos believe that -- unlike other recent at-large races -- the top four in the preliminary will end up as the four winners in November.

One of the reasons is money. We'll know more in the next few days, as campaigns file their latest campaign-finance reports, but I know that Felix Arroyo and Ayanna Pressley have both been quickly capitalizing on their top-four showings. Donors like to get on board with winners.

Don't count out the other four candidates. But signs look good for Connolly, Murphy, Arroyo, and Pressley to be sworn in next January.

The article is here: Final Four? The City Council preliminary is seldom a preview of the finish. But this time, it just might be.