Milton Street, Lacking Campaign Funds, Turns To Facebook

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The only person so far ready to challenge Mayor Michael Nutter in the May Democratic primary is none other than Milton Street -- former state senator, brother of former mayor John Street, and most recently a prison inmate.

He launches his campaign on Wednesday.

Milton Street was released from federal prison only last year but he insists he can mount a serious challenge to Michael Nutter.

"You won't have anyone out there not taking me serious," Street said.

Street admits taking on Nutter won't be easy: "It's going to be difficult, because he has the power of the mayor's office."

Street admits he has no money to run a campaign, but says that in the Internet age you don't need it.

"You're able to have text, and you have Twitter, and you have Facebook -- the need for money is not very great," Street says.

When asked if he is already on Facebook, the elder Street, 71, said he just got out of a halfway house last November and hasn't had the chance.

Street was sentenced in 2008 for failure to file tax returns. He says because the charges were at the misdemeanor level, he's still able to run for office.

Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio 1060.