Leading up to the primary, Leon Cannizzaro and Ralph Capitelli attacked each other by pointing out questionable decisions.

Political analyst Doctor Silas Lee said as the candidates move toward a run-off, too much sparring can hurt the candidates.

But some jabs may be the difference
"They're so similar in vision, and the only way to distinguish yourself is to try and paint your opponent as not suitable for the job. Especially in an environment where by ethics will matter,” Lee said. “And definitely voters want a more efficient District Attorney's Office."

Both candidates agree that the office has been run poorly and hasn't adapted to the times. Voters want to see that turned around quickly.

"The crimes are different today. The defendants are different today. The guns are different today. The drugs are different today,” Cannizaro said. “And to say that we're going to run this office like this office was run back in the 1970's or the 1980's is not accurate. It's not going to work.”

Capitelli also stresses the importance of change.

"It's about the necessity for change in that office. They understand the future of our city, the recovery of our city depends upon the criminal justice system functioning well,” Capitelli said. “The DAs office has got to function well or the system won't function at all. We've got to make all of our neighborhoods safe. That's really the heart of my message and the voters really understand that."

Cannizzaro finished nearly three-thousand votes ahead of Capitelli during Saturday's primary, but analysts say throw those results out the window for the run-off.

"That's where endorsements become important, and it's a new race. Certainly by running second does not mean it's over. He can expand his political base, and if he can garner resources, capture the support, and capture the support of the voters who supported Jason Williams and Linda Bizzarro,” Lee said.

But Williams, who ran third, declined to make an endorsement after his speech.

"I'm gonna pray on it. I'm gonna think on it. The next decision this city makes is the most important decision we'll make in the life of New Orleans,” Williams said.

That is one more thing the run-off opponents agree on.

"If we get category 5 protection levees to protect us from flood, but aren't able to handle our category 5 crime problem inside those levees, then none of us are safe,” Capitelli said. “The city cannot recover, and people will not want to come to our great city."

Said Cannizzaro: “I'm not sure we're going to get another chance to turn around the crime problem if we don't do so in this election. Let's be honest, the criminal justice system has had some problems for some time in Orleans Parish."