New Orleans electing new mayor on Super Bowl eve

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/02/04/art.mardigras.file.gi.jpg caption="A mayoral election is scheduled for Saturday in New Orleans amidst Mardi Gras celebrations."](CNN) - While the City of New Orleans is undoubtedly focused on Sunday’s Super Bowl featuring the hometown Saints, Saturday's mayoral election is also on the minds of many city residents.

In Orleans Parish, 11 mayoral candidates, Democrats and Republicans, are on the ballot to replace Mayor Ray Nagin, a term-limited Democrat. If no candidate wins 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters will go head to head in a runoff.

But in addition to the election and Sunday's big game, the mayoral candidates also have to compete against Mardi Gras events this weekend.

On Election Day five carnival crews are holding their annual Mardi Gras parades across the Crescent City. Starting at noon many streets are blocked off as the floats and marching bands make their way down the wide avenues, and residents line the streets grasping for beads and doubloons.

Still, voters are tuning into the election, which current Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu is favored to win, according to pre-election polls. If that happens, Landreiu will be the first white mayor of the city in more than 30 years. Landrieu, who lost his 2006 New Orleans mayoral bid, is the brother of current Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune is reporting few Election Day hitches so far.

- CNN’s Eric Marrapodi contributed to this report