FALL RIVER, Mass. — Indicted Mayor Jasiel Correia II, facing an uphill battle in his quest for re-election, is taking on a new campaign strategy with the hope of a multi-candidate race to possibly take him to a win.

Correia outlined his new game plan to supporters Wednesday night during what he earlier described as a “regular campaign organizational meeting” at LePage’s Seafood and Grille. The Herald News received a copy of an audio recording made during the meeting.

The mayor indicated in the recording that at least one person will step up and launch a write-in sticker campaign, with an announcement by the person he declined to identify coming as soon as next week.

“It’s important because it makes it a multi-person race,” said Correia, who asked supporters to keep the plan under wraps. “I think everybody can read between the lines – a multi-person race like the recall.”

Referring to the campaign of challenger Paul Coogan, Correia said, “I will also turn that campaign on its side, because right now they’re riding high and already making appointments.”

In March, and on the same ballot, Correia, already facing 13 federal charges, was recalled by more than 60 percent of the vote and then won by a slight majority in a five-way plurality race. Coogan came in a close second place, but then tromped Correia and challenger Erica Scott-Pacheco in this month’s preliminary election, which came 11 days after Correia’s second arrest.

While Correia declined to reveal to his supporters who the “third-party candidate” might be, The Herald News reported Wednesday that City Administrator Cathy Ann Viveiros confirmed she would consider a run for mayor as a write-in candidate if Correia stepped aside from his campaign.

However, at LePage’s, Correia said he wasn’t walking away from the race or his office, but needed a new tactic in the campaign.

“When you are in a battle that you have a disadvantage, you have a couple of options. You can give up. You can change the circumstances and try to figure out the alternative outcomes,” said Correia. “Right now there is only one outcome if we go ‘mano a mano,’ one on one: We don’t win. And everything that we’ve done, all the things we have done, will be for nothing.

“So I need your help to still win in an un-traditional way.”

To his supporters, who often cheered as Correia spoke and at other times sounded tearful, the mayor had choice words for what he saw as his political rivals.

Correia likened Coogan to a “Manchurian Candidate,” referencing the novel and film about a political candidate from a prominent family who is brainwashed in a Communist plot.

“He is, in all words, a puppet,” said Correia, noting he would not “allow it to happen,” meaning a Coogan win.

As for Kenneth Fiola Jr., vice president of the former Fall River Office of Economic Development, who the mayor banished from city hall and economic development duties, Correia referred to him as “public enemy No. 1” who was trying to “get back in.”

City Councilor Steven Camara, who has been the lone Correia supporter on the council and who was applauded as he entered the restaurant’s private function room, told the crowd, “My heart is with Jasiel, my heart is with all of you."

Not all of Correia’s supporters in the room were convinced of the mayor’s “un-traditional” campaign.

“I think, I think this is a gamble,” said one unidentified woman.

“It’s a gamble, but if I go one-on-one, we lose,” Correia responded.

Another supporter said through tears, “We want you to be our mayor. It’s not fair.”

“This gives us the best shot and still win,” said Correia.

The mayor also mapped out other strategies in his bid for re-election as he faces 24 counts of federal charges tied to investor fraud and political corruption.

“The more debates I do, the less spotlight I’m in, in terms of negativity, the more votes I bring back,” said Correia.

Correia also told his supporters he needed “to release all of you” from sign holding and campaigning door-to-door, noting he didn’t want his supporters to be harassed or threatened given the circumstances.

“I probably have the most name recognition as any politician in Massachusetts so we don’t need to get our name out,” Correia said.

Jo C. Goode at jgoode@heraldnews.com