Kwame Kilpatrick, On the Verge of Possibly Going Back to Jail in Detroit, Attempts to Rebuild His National Image with Redemption Story

Using the pages of Jet magazine and a nationally syndicated black radio morning show, Kilpatrick has talked about contrition and sought forgiveness for letting Detroit down in the text-messaging scandal. And while a national audience may be willing to forgive, some Detroiters -- even those who admire Kilpatrick -- say they are worn out by the legal saga of the disgraced politician.

"The wound is still just a bit too raw for most Detroiters," said Jim Edmondson, a political consultant who ran City Councilman Kenneth Cockrel Jr.'s mayoral campaign last year. "I think the overwhelming perception of Kwame Kilpatrick is that it's all about taking care of Kwame Kilpatrick.

"Is it possible for him to make a comeback?" Edmondson asked. "Absolutely. Americans love a comeback. Detroiters love a comeback."

Kilpatrick's spokesman Mike Paul, the self-proclaimed reputation doctor and public relations specialist from New York City, was mum on the former mayor's strategy to rebuild his image.