With exactly one week left before the election on Tuesday, the St. Petersburg mayoral race is heating up.
Both campaigns have revved up their efforts to get potential voters.
"You're coming into the stadium and you're sprinting for the finish line," said Mayor Bill Foster.
"Until 7 p.m., a week from today, this job isn't finished," said candidate Rick Kriseman.
On Tuesday, the push to re-elect Bill Foster hit the streets. Volunteers knocked on doors to encourage voters to go to the polls.
Meanwhile, candidate Rick Kriseman made calls to potential voters from his campaign office.
The goal for both campaigns has been to convince residents to mail in early ballots. Nearly 22,000 voters have already cast their votes.
So far, the early voting numbers are higher than the same time frame during the last mayoral election in 2009. Still the race remains close.
With many undecided voters, both candidates are rushing to get their message out.
"St. Pete's winning," Foster said. "I've been the coach. I've assembled the team. I've called the plays, think about what we can do going forward."
"People, I keep hearing are ready for a change," Kriseman said. "They want to see a change in their government. They want to see the city become what it's capable of being."
Over the last few weeks, the battle for City Hall has taken an ugly turn. Outside groups have been mailing negative campaign ads to voters. The ads are aimed at both candidates.
"Every day I get two or three and I don't even read them," said voter Rita Devore. "They go right in my recycle box."
Many voters believe in the end, it'll be the message and not the negative ads, that determine who wins the race.