(Atlanta Mayor) Norwood and Reed in runoff Dec. 1

Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | 11/4/2009 | Eric Stirgus

[markomalley]

Atlanta has one more month and one more election to go before it chooses the city's next mayor: Councilwoman Mary Norwood and former state Sen. Kasim Reed will face each other in a runoff Dec. 1.

With 100 percent of the vote counted, Norwood led the race with 45 percent. She maintained a comfortable margin throughout the vote counting Tuesday night but was unable to muster the 50 percent required to put the race away. Reed finished a strong second, with 37 percent, and City Council President Lisa Borders faded to a distant third with 14 percent in the eight-way race.

"I will hit the ground running," a smiling Norwood vowed late Tuesday night, addressing a buoyant crowd at the Varsity, the unusual site of her election-night gathering. "I feel wonderful. We are 10 points ahead. I think that's a great place for anyone to be." (Norwood wound up seven points ahead, although she was 10 points up when she made that statement.)

Reed emerged to greet supporters at the Hyatt Regency at 11:15 p.m., saying that Norwood had run her best race, and that the trajectory of his campaign showed that he was on the road to be the next mayor.

“I’m not going to turn this into a victory speech," Reed told the cheering crowd. "I’ve got to save some fire for the next few days. Our best days are ahead of us. Greatness is within our grasp, Atlanta!”

[markomalley]

Norwood was the only white candidate.

A race to watch to see if Reed's camp turns on the racial politics or not. (No, I'm not holding my breath)

[Old Retired Army Guy]

You can bet it will be all about race and in Fulton County, Reed loses.

[dixiedarlindownsouth]

She's so liberal she may have a chance. But when her opponent reached out to the trailing 3rd candidate, he mentioned that he could use her support in keeping the mayor's office “ as it always has been historically” or something to that effect, so yes, I would say the run off will be all about race.

[doodad]

I hope she wins just to hear the howls and self flagellation of the racists that “run” the city. Sometime soon, the state and governor will have to wrest that airport from the incompetent buffoons that run it, like all their other programs, as a minority make work effort.