None of the above. More than 1,500 of the party faithful attended the annual Meehan Clambake, held this year at the Cannstatter Club in the Northeast, braving long lines for food and drinks on the warm day.

"We have quite a turnout this year," said Republican general counsel Michael Meehan. The clambake is a Republican tradition named after his grandfather, the late Austin Meehan and the younger Meehan's father, the late Billy Meehan.

Mike Fisher, the GOP gubernatorial candidate, arrived early and stayed until the end.

He took a swipe at his Democratic opponent, Ed Rendell, for not doing enough for the city's failing school system. "When he was the mayor, remember what happened," said Fisher in his speech. "He didn't help the schools." If elected, Fisher will institute a plan calling for increased classroom funding, accountability and more local control.

Fisher and Jane Earll, who is running for lieutenant governor, have been covering the state in their magic bus, a huge RV that resembles a touring bus for rock stars.

The bus has cushy leather chairs, a food and beverage station, two televisions, decorative lighting, mirrored ceilings and of course a driver, who is substantial enough to be a bodyguard if necessary.

The enthusiastic attendance may have been generated by the governor's race this year, or perhaps it had to do with the cadre of candidates who are considering running for a Council at-large seat next year.

There are currently two Republicans-at-large in Council: Councilmen Thacher Longstreth and Frank Rizzo Jr. To date, both have indicated that they are planning to run for re-election.

"It's definitely about Thacher," said Rizzo, who attended the clambake. (Longstreth did not.) "They think he is not running."

Rizzo has gone back on the airwaves at WURD-AM radio on Monday nights, but will have to resign that gig next year when he runs for re-election.

"I know Mike [Meehan] wants to run a five-person, diversified slate for at-large seats," continued Rizzo.

Jack Kelly, a lobbyist for the city, Joe McColgan, a financial adviser, and James (Jamie) McDermott, the executive director of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority have all said they are very interested in running. They all attended the clambake.

So did Karen Chizeck, a communications and fundraising consultant, vice-chair of the Fifth Ward and the Pennsylvania director of the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition.

She last ran against State Rep. Babette Josephs in 1988 and now is thinking about running for Council. She is close to Longstreth and his fiancée/chief of staff/business partner Melanie Hopkins.

"I want to talk to Thacher before I decide," said Chizeck, who also plans to set up an exploratory committee to decide if running is feasible.

David Oh is also rumored to be running. He is an attorney at his own firm, a national fundraiser, and a leader in the Asian community. Oh was not at the clambake because he was speaking at an Asian civic event. He is not prepared to discuss his plans yet.

And there is one more candidate who is not ready to declare, but who is friendly with State Sen. Vincent Fumo.

Back at the clambake, Jack Kelly said that he is confident the party will nominate him.

"A lot of people have asked me to consider running," said Kelly, who was the former Seventh District Councilman. "And I will get a lot of Democrat votes."

If he decided to run, Kelly would have to resign his position as the special assistant for governmental affairs, where he makes $59,726 and gets a city car.

Next year's mayoral race was in the mix as well, with Sam Katz and George Bochetto still undecided and both circulating at the clambake.

Rizzo is also mulling a mayoral run. "They are all speculating that I will run," said Rizzo. "But in this business I do not speculate. My ego will not make my decision. If the party asks me to run, I will."

Last but not least on the candidate food chain were the 2003 judicial candidates, all in attendance.

Common Pleas Court Judge James "Jimmy" Lynn is running for Supreme Court, Charlie Cunningham is running for Superior Court, and Tom Nocella and Michael Untermeyer are running for Common Pleas Court.

The Meehan picnic was also a good stop for next year's Democratic candidates such as Edgar Howard, who is running for city commissioner. Howard said he doubts that his boss, State Rep. Dwight Evans, will run for mayor next year.

GOP Second Ward committeeman Michael Ciliberti said that Buddy Cianfrani’s clubhouse at Seventh and Fitzwater is being cleaned out and closed.

Cianfrani was the legendary ward leader and consultant who died of heart failure last month.