Denis Coderre was all grins as he exited city hall on Saturday morning for what might have been the last time as mayor of Montreal.
He was en route to a press conference across the street, where he underlined his achievements over the last four years.
“The difference between a manager and a leader — manager is doing things right, but leader is doing the right thing,” he said from a podium flanked by members of his party.
“I think that for the last four years, we did what we had to do.”
Meanwhile, campaigning across town at Marché Maisonneuve, his rival, Valérie Plante, had her own message, telling a curious child that she might be the first female mayor of the city.
READ MORE: New CROP poll shows Plante and Coderre neck-and-neck as mayoral race draws to an end
It’s a crucial last day of campaigning for both candidates, trying to win over voters who are currently split down the middle.
One side is backing a veteran politician who says he helped to put Montreal back on the map, the other supporting a symbol of change who says she’s eager to shake up the status quo despite having less political experience.
“This is exactly what the Conservatives were saying to Justin Trudeau,” she responded to questions concerning her lack of experience. “And he’s now the prime minister of Canada.”
The two have been in a statistical dead heat for weeks — a surprise to many who initially saw the election as a cakewalk for Coderre, thanks to his political experience and connections.
WATCH BELOW: Coderre vs. Plante
But his reputation for being arrogant could hinder his chances, some say. “Listen, in adversity, you need to have some backbone to stand up,” he countered.
His handling of hot-button issues — like the Formula E race or the pitbull ban — has also seen his popularity plummet.
READ MORE: Mayor Denis Coderre reflects on last four years
Plante, on the other hand, continues to gain momentum, despite concerns that some of her promises are unrealistic.
But, she said, “We’ve been honest about our propositions, and telling Montrealers how much it would cost, where we would be saving, and where we would be getting the money.”
READ MORE: Meet Projet Montréal mayoral candidate Valérie Plante
It’ll finally be clear on Sunday who voters choose to oversee their vision for the city. Polls are open Sunday, Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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