Borders Endorses Reed

By Odette Yousef

Atlanta, GA – As widely expected, Atlanta City Council President Lisa Borders today endorsed her former mayoral rival: Kasim Reed. Both Reed and his opponent, Mary Norwood, sought Borders's support in what is likely to be a close run-off.

WABE's Odette Yousef reports.

Borders said she chose Reed because he was open to her policy ideas on new sources of city revenue and loans to small businesses.

BORDERS: We spent some significant time working through our policy ideas. Thoughtful, deliberative, and accurate. That's what we will always be. This team is unbeatable.

But what is the value of Borders's endorsement?

GILLESPIE: The Borders endorsement doesn't mean a whole lot unless it comes with some essential hardware.

That's Emory University Political Science Professor Andra Gillespie. Gillespie says Borders can make the most difference for Reed if she knocks on voters' doors, and offers her campaign staff to help him.

Borders said that's what she'll do:

BORDERS: We are going out immediately, we cannot waste one minute. We've got lots of doors to knock on, we've got lots of folks to talk to,

Reed said he values Borders's endorsement because of her experience and knowledge as City Council President. When asked whether he's worried about voter turnout on December 1st, he said:

REED: I'm not worried about it at all. I actually feel very good about voter turnout. I think that it is a matter of putting in the work, and going to voters directly where they are.

But Gillespie and several other political scientists believe that the winning candidate's success hinges on getting people to the polls, and that's where Borders can help.

How soon will Borders start knocking on those doors?

BORDERS: Odette, it's today. It's today.

Candidate Mary Norwood's campaign manager said Norwood has the utmost respect for Borders, but ultimately, voters will decide "who the candidate who wants to take the city in a new direction is and who is business as usual."

Odette Yousef, WABE News.