Television Ads From Mayoral Candidates Offer A Wide Range

BOSTON (CBS) ---- There are just 28 days to go until Boston voters narrow the field of would-be successors to Mayor Tom Menino down to two.

Related: Meet The Mayoral Candidates

The final stage of the preliminary race has brought a flurry of T.V. ads.

The ads have a little bit of everything.

From biographical ads like the one from District Attorney Dan Conley.

Conley focuses on how his father worked nights at the telephone company and his mother took care of him and his six brothers and sisters.

And ads touting accomplishments, like City Councilor John Connolly's first spot showing his work in the schools.

Veteran Political Consultant Dan Payne has been making political ads for decades.

He says so far, nothing has grabbed him and sees a race notable for its lack of criticism of the status quo.

"They don't really talk about the things that aren't going well in the city, and I think in part that's because they don't want to offend the mayor," Payne says.

City Councilors Rob Consalvo and Mike Ross are both running ads showcasing their athletic ability, a move Payne sees as an homage to Mayor Tom Menino's legendary pre-illness energy.

"They clearly want to show that they are vigorous and involved. Unlike, perhaps Menino, they're not suffering from any physical ailment that would make it hard for them to do the job."

But will the ads stay positive?

"As we get closer to the September 24 preliminary, they're going to start to throw some elbows," Payne said.