More Reed momentum for mayor, courtesy of Borders endorsement
November 11, 2009 at 2:24 pm by Scott Henry in News
How much does momentum help when you’re running for elected office? Just ask Hillary Clinton and the many other candidates who’ve stalled out after an early surge.
Look, Kasim Reed has a lot of ground to make up in his effort to win the Dec. 1 runoff for mayor against front-runner Mary Norwood, but right now, he’s got the momentum. On Monday, he picked up an endorsement from former state legislator Jim Martin. Yes, Martin has been twice defeated running for higher office, but he was a longtime House member who still enjoys respect as an honorable public servant. I know I’m often dragging race into these matters, but it doesn’t hurt Reed’s image that Martin is white.
But that boost was a lead-up to today’s announcement that former candidate Lisa Borders is endorsing Reed at an event going on at this moment. From the pre-release:
“After many months of campaigning, it is critical for us to come together as a demonstration of strength and unity. Atlanta lies at a critical crossroads and her very future depends on leadership that can unite us and move us forward,” Borders said. “Now is the time to lay aside our differences and work in the best interest of all citizens to ensure each has the opportunity to rise to their full potential. Senator Reed’s ideas for afterschool recreation centers, his focus on public safety and his willingness to work toward increasing revenue opportunities for Atlanta are in line with my policy objectives.”
Having talked to Borders’ campaign folks over recent weeks, it was pretty clear that she wasn’t going to support Norwood. I know this will irk many Norwood followers for me to point this out, but almost no one on the City Council believes Norwood has the competence to be a decent mayor. She simply doesn’t command much respect down at City Hall. I don’t want to put words in Borders’ mouth, but it’s my strong impression that she considers Norwood a lightweight.
That said, there was much debate about whether Borders would endorse Reed. Let’s just say they’re not close. But there was likely a great deal of pressure from the business community, black leaders and even many of her own supporters for Borders to take a stand.
Now that she has, it will be interesting to see what move Norwood will make to regain the momentum.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
November 11th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
A case of a lightweight calling a lightweight lightweight. Scott, Mary’s response is easy to predict. Mary will go down to City Hall and find a dollar bill that someone dropped. She’ll promise to find many more like that when she’s in the mayor’s office. Problem solved. What’s scary is that she might still be elected.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Lisa should have questioned Norwood’s ability to lead. You’re right about the other council members and their lack of respect for Norwood. Somebody, preferable Borders, should go on the record and say it.
November 11th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Get ready to hit those breaks fan boys.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
It’s crazy how no public official will endorse Mary Norwood. There’s something to be said for that. Not to mention, she’s basically be caught paying off two failed black politicians (Glenn Thomas and Able Mable) and there’s been no noise about it.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
I think even most of Norwood’s supporters know that she’s less than competent. However, no one is really voting for her, she (or her campaign manager Roman Levitt) has merely convinced them to vote against something. That something is mostly phantom and varies from group to group. Good campaign strategy when you have a poor candidate. Unfortunately, Atlanta can’t afford to fall for that one.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
I can’t imagine having Mary Norwood run an international city like Atlanta. She’s way out of her league. I can’t stand listening to her list of excuses about why she didn’t accomplish anything within her 8 years in the City Council. That’s not leadership.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Kasim Reed might run away with this one.