What happened to Anthony Williams?

Maybe Delco won't be looking for a new state senator after all.

Last week I theorized the towns along the eastern edge of the county might be getting a new face to represent them in Harrisburg.

That's because Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, D-8, is running for the Democratic nomination for mayor in Philadelphia.

Williams represents parts of Collingdale, Colwyn, Darby Borough, Darby Township, Folcroft, Lansdowne, Norwood, Sharon Hill and Yeadon. He doesn't have to give up his Senate seat to run for mayor.

Looks like that's a good thing.

Williams, believed by many to be the clear front-runner, has for some reason run aground.

A new poll out this week was a stunner. Williams is being blown out in the Dem race by City Councilman Jim Kenney.

The poll, conducted for NBC-10, the Inquirer, Daily News, and Philly.com, could not show a bleaker picture for Williams.

Kenney was favored by 42 percent of those polled. Williams was a distance second, tied with former D.A. Lynne Abraham with just 15 percent.

The big question is why? How did Williams go from the favorite to outcast.

It was widely believed Williams would roll up big numbers with black voters in a town that is known to vote according to skin color. But the poll shows Kenney actually is beating Williams among black voters, 33-25.

Williams, a huge proponent of school choice whose campaign is largely being bankrolled by suburban businessmen who are choice backers, made education the centerpiece of his campaign.

But he's getting beat on that very issue by Kenney.

Part of the reason stems from Williams - who in the past was very vocal in his stance on choice - seemingly moving away from it. It was hard to tell just where he stood.

Of course this is only a poll. Williams could still rally, especially if Kenney's troops fall asleep at the switch with what looks like a huge lead. But that's not likely to happen to the guy who is John Dougherty's candidate. His election-day machine should be humming.

Which means Anthony Williams won't be saying goodbye to Harrisburg any time soon.