WABE: Reed to Pundits: "I'm Ready to Go For This City!" (2009-11-04)

Atlanta

Reed to Pundits: "I'm Ready to Go For This City!"

Charles Edwards (2009-11-04)

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ATLANTA, GA (WABE) - Mary Norwood's opponent in the December 1st runoff is former State Senator Kasim Reed. With 38 percent of Tuesday's vote, Reed passed third place finisher city council President Lisa Borders. WABE's Charles Edwards reports.

Standing before hundreds of his supporters, Reed thanked them and his family. He also expressed great gratitude towards former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young and the family of late Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson for their endorsements.

In the beginning of the campaign, polls consistently showed Reed in third place behind Borders and frontrunner Norwood.

In his election night speech, Reed said pundits underestimated his candidacy.

"But what they didn't know is how much I love this city. What they didn't know is how many doors I would knock on for this city. What they didn't know is how many streets I would walk for this city. I'm ready to go for this city."

But are Atlanta voters ready for a runoff? There are about 258 thousand registered voters in Atlanta. Fewer than half showed up for the Mayor's race. And even fewer are expected back at the polls in December.

Charles Edwards, WABE News.
© Copyright 2009, WABE