NATCHEZ — When Bob Buie walked out the voting booth after casting a ballot Tuesday, he purposefully neglected to mention to passers-by at the Elks Lodge that his name would be on the next ballot in this race for the mayor’s office.

While Larry L. “Butch” Brown and Phillip West made rounds to the polls, flashing signs and loved ones in hopes of swaying anyone still on the fence with some face time, Buie, a Republican, and Independent mayoral candidate Bill Furlow said they had a relatively normal day Tuesday.

“It wasn’t my day,” Buie said Tuesday afternoon. “This was those guys’ day, and I think that’s the way it ought to be.”

Furlow, who didn’t cast a vote Tuesday, said he spent much of his day doing campaign work and taking care of personal business from his house. In fact, Tuesday was more of an off day than all the days before it on the campaign trail.

“It was sort of like most other days, with the exception that most days I would be out going door-to-door right now,” Furlow said.

“It’s too confusing for people (to campaign today).”

Buie said he didn’t hand out a single card Tuesday or tell anyone who he was.

“And probably very few people knew me because nobody knows me,” Buie said.

Starting today, however, Buie thinks that will change, he said.

Buie said he didn’t attempt to hit the campaign trail hard before today partially to wait until the field narrowed, but mostly to avoid the negative campaigning that transpired.

“There was a lot of bickering and fighting going on which I didn’t want any part of,” Buie said. “It wasn’t pleasant, and Natchez doesn’t need that.”

Buie said he would not shy away from pointing out a candidate’s true weaknesses, but it’s the name calling he doesn’t like.

Despite the general election duo’s choice to lie low Tuesday, both said they planned to watch the results with a vested interest.

“I obviously have a greater interest than almost anybody else, but it’s not like I have a rooting interest,” Furlow said before the polls closed.

Furlow said he would use the information from Tuesday’s results to focus his campaign strategy.

“I think the most obvious thing you (can do is to) target the people who supported the person who lost,” Furlow said.

For example, Furlow said, he has already targeted supporters of Jake Middleton following the May 1 primary.

Furlow said Tuesday’s results would prelude the type of campaign atmosphere from here on out.

“There’s obviously a very different dynamic running against Butch Brown than against Phillip West,” Furlow said.

Buie said he voted in the Democratic primary for the man he thought would do a better job, not the person he thought he had a better chance of beating.

“My conscious wouldn’t let me (selfishly),” Buie said.

Buie said he called both West and Brown Tuesday to wish them luck.

“And I meant that,” he said.

Furlow said he suspected voter turnout was low in the first primary because voters were not excited about the candidates, but he can’t be sure.

“How much does the vote fall off for people who will be asked to vote a third time? We can’t know that,” Furlow said.

“How many people were unenthusiastic (during) the first two primaries because they’re committed to me? We can’t know that either.”

“There are so many things that we just cannot know.”

Buie, Furlow and Brown will face off June 5.