Freddy gave a strong speech last night, more coherent and more passionate than Anthony's. He did sound like he'd won something.

But the real result at the Puck Building -- 39.9% makes Freddy something like the Job of city politics; perhaps boils are next -- was visible on the faces of Ferrer's close aides.

As the speech would up, advisor Roberto Ramirez and Ferrer's campaign lawyer, Stanley Schlein, stood by a curtain on the East Side of the room. As Freddy concluded with the words "God bless New York," Schlein exhaled glumly and Ramirez, in a gesture of pure frustration, smacked his palm into his forehead.