That's how campaigns have to think.

There's a lot riding on where the roughly 12 percent of the undecided voters go in the days ahead.

Considering that Bainum and Hannemann have been campaigning for this office in one form or another for almost three years, it's somewhat surprising that so many people remain undecided.

Part of the explanation may lie with the fact that this campaign has lacked the kind of electric moments, either positive or negative, that tend to galvanize the voters.

The two candidates have been sturdily going about their business, promising to keep their nose to the grindstone if elected, with their attention focused on the basics such as roads, sewers, police and fire protection and garbage.

Both Bainum and Hannemann have some lofty ideas for Honolulu. But those ideas are discussed far less frequently than the nuts and bolts of civic management.

The wild card going into the general election was former Mayor Frank Fasi, who collected about 10 percent of the votes in the primary and then pledged to back Hannemann in the general.

The poll suggests there was no "Fasi surge" for Hannemann.

Another unknown factor going into this election was the impact of voters who skipped the primary but say they will vote in the general, largely because of the heated presidential contest.

Bainum does slightly better among this group than he does among the primary voters, suggesting he got at least a small "bump" from the newcomers.

If indeed the mayoral race will ultimately be resolved by the undecided voters, their best chance to make up their minds comes tomorrow night, when Bainum and Hannemann meet in a live televised debate (7 p.m., KITV).