Washington (CNN) -- After Washington Mayor Vince Gray voted Tuesday morning and a vocal contingent of volunteers moved on to another precinct, Gray's campaign manager headed downtown to write three news releases to issue based on the outcome of Tuesday's Democratic primary election. Chuck Thies started with the hopeful news first and wrote the release his campaign would blast out if the mayor won the contest with a wide margin. But as voters across the district went to the polls Tuesday morning, even Gray's closest confidants and advisers acknowledged that outcome was not likely. Many cautioned that the election would be close, possibly within a few thousand votes.
@highlight
Incumbent Mayor Vince Gray at one time held a healthy lead in his re-election bid
@highlight
A businessman's plea bargain agreement over Gray's 2010 campaign raised doubts
@highlight
Challenger Muriel Bowser's poll numbers surged while Gray's remained flat
@highlight
Bowser ended up with a double-digit win over the one-term mayor
By the time 20% of the precincts were reporting and @placeholder's lead was not shrinking, Gray's political guru said it was apparent that the campaign "wasn't doing as well" as it needed.