She says the only endorsement that matters is the one from voters on the Election Day. That day is next Wednesday, and it’s a good thing Councilwoman Mary Norwood feels that way since she hasn’t had much luck with big-name supporters.
Kasim Reed on the other hand, Norwood's December 1st challenger, has had everybody and their aunt come out in public support for the young Senator.
Most recently, the baseball legend himself, Hank Aaron, endorsed Reed. He is supposed to team up with all of Reed’s major supporters such as former Mayor Andrew Young, current mayor Shirley Franklin, Lisa Borders, Reed’s former teachers and some average Joe-supporters, in a youtube video for the African-American candidate. The video will be featured on Young’s Facebook page.
Norwood, a white candidate who would be the first white female mayor of Atlanta, and a first white mayor since 1974, only received one endorsement from an elected official; State Rep. Ralph Long came out with his support two weeks ago. “My father often told me that leadership was lonely, but wow,” said Long, who represents a southwestern part of the metro area, about Norwood’s lack of endorsements.
But if Norwood was going to only get one supporter, Long is a good one for her situation. In the general election, most of Norwood’s votes came from upper-middle class neighborhoods. This time around she will need more diverse support so she needed some “street credibility.” The southwestern part of Atlanta could be easily categorized as one of the poorest, most run-down places in the city, if not the whole state.
“Am I supposed to believe that only my eyes see the trash, lack of development, vacant homes and absolute lawlessness plaguing my side of town,” said Long in a statement on his Facebook page. “We are near the point of anarchy.” A lot of African-Americans who lined up behind Norwood did so because they feel the black leadership in Atlanta has failed them.
However, this mind set has been appalling to some in the African-American elites. An ex-wife of the first black Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson, Bunnie Jackson-Ransom, said shortly after Long’s endorsement: “I intend to do whatever I can to wake up those African-Americans who have become ‘bamboozled’ into believing that a moderately educated, Southern white [woman] will do something for them.” source
Long has been largely ostracized by the African-American community for backing Norwood. Many of his former friends in the State Legislature no longer return his phone calls, and a woman at a public forum accused him of running away from his “blackness.” He’s also been accused of taking money for the endorsement.
“’My house is in Sylvan Hills. I’m parallel-parked between two murders in the last three months,’ he said. ‘An execution-style murder on the corner of Langston and Carnes avenues. That didn’t make the news. And the young man who was shot 31 times in his vehicle. I even had another young lady who got shot in the face — it took her seven months to die — at an illegal club that was on Murphy Avenue.’
“Development stops at the edge of Long’s district. Restaurants are rare, and grocery stores limit their stock. A fresh cucumber requires a seven-mile drive.
“’My neighborhood has been bamboozled,’ said Long.” source
It should be noted that Norwood has received a significant support from minority communities who stood up months ago against the “racial bullying.” Norwood received 23% of black vote, better than Lisa Borders, an African-American.
One of the commentators on the AJC website expressed his distaste with the race games in the following paragraph:
“Kudos to Mr. Long, I am not positive who I am voting for, as a black man though, I’m not going to be bamboozled by my own people just to vote for the black person just because. There are two many things going wrong in my neighborhood (and not just recently, but for years) that I see change not in terms of a white mayor vs. a black mayor, but in terms of cleaning the garbage and same people out of city hall.
"It disgusts me that just because someone endorses Norwood [who's] of a different color, they automatically bought her vote. Where are the people yelling that Jim Martin and Roy Barnes were paid for their endorsements. I’m sick and tired of all this same stuff going on in politics (this is in essence why Norwood got 46% because folks want change (not a white/black mayor) but change).
"I think Long is good for standing up for what/who he believes in. Us black people always try and bully each other into being on the same side because some ‘leader’ says that’s the right thing to do. We always fall for the same crap. Ralph Long, hold your ground and do the best you can for your candidate, if she wins, I’m sure you’ll be getting a lot of calls. If she loses, then you will be able to walk proud.”
On a different note, Norwood has found a way to use this lack of “love” from Georgia political establishment to her advantage.
"Mary Norwood has a clear and documented track record of having always been someone who stands up for all Atlantans against the politicians and the special interests," her campaign spokesperson Zee Bradford said. "Voters know that a string of endorsements from politicians is nothing more than politics as usual."
“An endorsement is just politics as usual," concurred campaign manager Roman Levit, "Politicians trying to protect their status quo are going to stick together." source
In addition, despite all the glossy endorsements from Civil Rights icons like Rev. Joseph Lowery and Democratic Party stars like Roy Barnes, Reed is gearing up for a tough election. In the last three polls the two candidates came out pretty much neck and neck, and the turnout became the main focus of the fight very quickly.
Less than 30% of voters came out in the general election on November 3rd, and runoffs usually see about half of the original number.
Since the voters are expected to vote mostly along race lines, Reed might have a harder time getting his supporters out. His are mostly minority, low income residents, who might have more difficulties getting off work, finding or affording babysitters in a middle of the week, or even getting to a polling place. Black voters are least likely to turn out for runoffs, according to statistics.
Norwood is facing her own dilemma with the timing of the runoff which falls on December 1st. This is the week after Thanksgiving when a lot of families, especially the wealthy ones, leave town for travel. Norwood, therefore, has been very vocal about absentee ballots and early voting.
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