We’re getting into the final hours of a very brutal campaign season, and it’s becoming clear that every vote is going to count.

No I’m not talking about the 2008 presidential campaign, but instead the Phoenix’s annual Best Music Poll.

For those of you unfamiliar with it, each year the Phoenix asks readers to choose the best performers Portland has to offer in categories like Best Singer –Songwriter, Best Live Act, Best Punk Act and Best Local Act. It a way to celebrate all the great local talent that this city pumps out from DJs and MCs to roots groups and heavy metal. As a plus, each year there's a series of concerts from the nominees.

Since the nominees were announced, there has been no shortage of musicians looking for support on message boards, MySpace and Facebook and at live shows around town.

The voting officially closes tomorrow, but seeing as it's the final hours, we should be on the look out for attack ads to reach the "undecided voter." They might look something like this...

AD WATCH

TITLE: Souless Blues Machine

DESCRIPTION: This ad features grainy black-and-white photos of Samuel James, a nominee for Best R&B, Soul, or Blues Act, with eerie choral music in the background. The ad was paid for by a group called "Friends of Nigel Hall."

SCRIPT: "Samuel James plays the blues guitar like a man possessed. But did you know Samuel’s talents come straight from the devil himself? That’s right, Portland’s favorite blues man sold his soul just so he could recreate the sounds of blues great Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter. That’s right, he used the ghost of a dead blues legend to make his name. Those cool socks and fedora aren’t fooling anyone, Sam. Samuel James, out of touch with god fearing Portlanders."

ACCURACY: Uhhh, to my knowledge he is not possessed. But I have not waved a cross in front of him to be sure.

EFFECTIVENESS: This ad seems to be ineffective. Again, I don’t think he’s possessed.

TITLE: He’s a Bad Man

DESCRIPTION: This ad splices together footage of DJ Boondocks , a nominee for Best DJ, at open-mic night at the Big Easy with what looks like stock footage of people drinking and doing drugs. Also a picture of a baby panda. This ad was paid for by "Hip-Hop Citizens United for Graymatter."

SCRIPT: "DJ Boondocks says he’s the man who brought back hip-hop open mic night to Portland. But if he’s so serious about keeping hip-hop alive in Portland, where has he been lately? Boondocks’ record tells another story – missing in action from Monday night open mic, leaving DJs Shade and Graymatter to pick up the slack. Seems he’s too busy traveling and hitting the bars to make beats for the real fans. He also kicked a baby panda in the face once. DJ Boondocks, wrong on hip-hop, wrong on pandas and wrong for Portland."

ACCURACY: While it’s true Boondocks has gone absent from open-mic night from time to time, more often then not he can be found there Monday nights. He also recently started up a hip-hop night on Thursdays at the Lava Lounge. To my knowledge he does not enjoy kicking baby pandas.

EFFECTIVENESS: Not really sure this one is too effective either.

When will this mud slinging come to a stop? Don’t forget to vote for your favorites before the polls close tomorrow. The winners will be announced May 16 at the Asylum.

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