Harrell, Wilson in competitive race ahead of primary

What they're saying: "That the fundraising is tied at this point is surprising," local political consultant Sandeep Kaushik told Axios on Friday.

• Normally, you'd expect a "veteran incumbent mayor" like Harrell "to be able to vastly outraise an insurgent challenger coming from the left," Kaushik said.

By the numbers: Both candidates' campaigns had raised roughly $450,000 as of Friday — far more than anyone else in the race, records show.

Yes, but: Harrell's campaign has been bolstered by more than $100,000 in spending by a third-party PAC.

• That pro-Harrell committee has raised tens of thousands more that it hasn't spent yet, which could be used to blanket voters with TV ads and other communications ahead of next week's primary.
• Because of that, "Bruce still has a significant financial advantage," political consultant Michael Charles told Axios on Monday.

Catch up quick: Wilson has said she got into the race partly because Harrell didn't support a ballot measure earlier this year to tax businesses to pay for new social housing.

• She's also criticized the mayor's approach to homelessness, saying he has focused more on removing encampments than increasing shelter options.

• Harrell's campaign, meanwhile, has touted a decline in crime citywide since he took office, as well as housing investments he made in his first term.

Between the lines: Stephen Paolini, another local political consultant, told Axios that Harrell's recent support for a tax on high-grossing businesses is a sign that he's responding to Wilson's progressive campaign.

• Paolini said if someone had told him six months ago Harrell would co-sponsor that policy, "I would have told you no way."