[2] Archer performed extremely well in the vote in the nonpartisan primary held on September 9, which narrowed the general election down to him and State Representative Ed Vaughn.

[1][4] He also benefited from improved municipal services, decreases in crime and new private development in the city.

[2] Private investment in the city included the General Motors Corporation's purchase of Renaissance Center to serve as its new headquarters.

[5] Capitalizing off of a sentiment of optimism about the city's direction, Archer's campaign slogan was "The hope is real.

[1] Vaughn sought to cast Archer as a corporatist that was out of touch with the city's working class.

[9] He also accused Vaughn of giving corporate interests control of the city, pointing to proposals by Archer of moving the city government's main offices to the General Motors Building and of permitting the Founders Society to manage the Detroit Institute of Arts.

The editorial board of the Detroit Free Press endorsed Archer on September 5.