With the civic election only days away, Mayor Larry O'Brien was in seclusion Friday while his rivals continued campaigning to secure those final undecided votes.

O'Brien was still the talk of the town, though, with people reacting to the mayor's interview with Metro News in which he called Jim Watson a "little girl."

O'Brien is quoted saying Watson has spent the last two years badmouthing him, but when Watson is dealt a few blows, he "whines like a little girl."

"What I would like to say to him is, ‘Suck it up, princess,'" O'Brien said.

Watson spent the day trying to brush off the comments: "I regret those kinds of statements that have been made by Mr. O'Brien, but you know I'm plugging away and turning the other cheek," he said.

Rivals pound the pavement

The mayor kept a low profile Friday. He didn't make any public appearances and refused to talk to the media. That was not the case for his rivals.

Watson says the next few days will be crucial leading into Monday's vote.

"Every hour of the next couple of days is going to be important to my campaign," he said.

Doucet gains momentum

Clive Doucet also pounded the pavement Friday, trying to capitalize on the momentum his team is feeling in the final days of the campaign.

"We've leafleted every car, I've shaken thousands and thousands of hands," said Doucet. "It's a happy moment for us."

He said people are realizing the race for mayor isn't just between two candidates.

"A lot of people felt that they have to vote for Watson because they didn't want to vote for O'Brien. And we knew once that fear was gone, people would look at our policies and say, 'woo, we like that,'" Doucet told CTV Ottawa.

"We're seeing a great surge all around the city and it's catching everyone by surprise, but it's not catching us."

Voters head to the polls on Monday. Hundreds of polling stations across the city will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters are required to bring proof of identification and place of residence when they cast their ballots. To avoid lineups, people are advised to vote during off-peak hours, which are usually between 1 and 4 p.m.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem