Racial turnout key in Atlanta runoff

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By ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATLANTA (AP) | Just a few weeks ago, some suggested Atlanta was about to name its first white mayor in a generation. Instead, the Nov. 3 election set up a hard-fought runoff battle that's expected to break down largely along racial lines when voters return to the polls Tuesday.

Mary Norwood, the white candidate, and former state Sen. Kasim Reed, a black man, are vying for a critical mass of racial crossover votes, with victory likely hinging on black-versus-white turnout.

"What it comes down to is if she gets more black votes than he gets white votes," said political strategist Tom Houck. "When people say race doesn't matter, obviously it does. There is no dominant issue that distinguishes these two other than she's a white woman and he's a black guy."

Indeed, while the folksy and perky City Council member Miss Norwood contrasts with the more serious and polished Mr. Reed, both candidates have focused on public safety, transparency and accountability in their campaigns. Miss Norwood has been accused of being a closeted Republican, and Mr. Reed has challenged her for the votes of another key minority, gay Atlantans.

Mr. Reed has enjoyed a steady march of endorsements, keeping his name in the local media. Meanwhile, Miss Norwood has stuck to her grass-roots strategy - without big names touting her candidacy, she has held press conferences in blighted neighborhoods around the city.

Early voting suggests strong turnout in Miss Norwood's stronghold. Voters on the city's northside -- where most whites cast ballots -- were outpacing the heavily black southside. The Thanksgiving holiday and a prediction of rain Tuesday could further depress voter turnout, already expected to be low. Political observers have the candidates tied.

Atlanta, nicknamed "The City Too Busy to Hate," has had black mayors since Sam Massell, the last white mayor, was defeated in 1973. Current Mayor Shirley Franklin became the city's first female mayor in 2002 and is barred from seeking a third term.

With a population of about 500,000, Atlanta saw its black population share decline from 61 percent to 57 percent between 2000 and 2007, according to the latest census figures. During the same time period, the white population grew from 33 percent to 38 percent.

During the general election, Miss Norwood was widely considered the front-runner, as the crowded field of mostly black candidates fractured the city's black vote. She had considerable funding, a successful ground campaign and notable black support, which she has cultivated in seven years on the City Council. People even talked of an outright Norwood victory on Nov. 3.

Mr. Reed left his post as a state senator to run for mayor, a dream he says he has held since he was a college freshman. He started late with little money and hardly any name recognition, but within weeks, bolstered by high-profile endorsements, Mr. Reed's coffers and support grew.

Miss Norwood took 46 percent of the vote in the six-person general election -- short of the 50 percent of the vote plus one needed to avoid a runoff -- compared with Mr. Reed's 36 percent. About 33 percent of the city's 237,000 registered voters cast ballots.

"Kasim Reed was an unknown in the broader community and had nowhere to go but up," said Mr. Massell, a former mayor and now president of the Buckhead Coalition. "It's hard to believe there are any undecideds about Mary Norwood because of her long history."

Mr. Reed also stands to pick up voters from former challenger Lisa Borders, who finished a distant third in the general election with 14.5 percent of the vote. Mrs. Borders, who is black, has since thrown her support behind Mr. Reed.