Gay Vote May Settle Atlanta Mayoral Race

Mary Norwood will become Atlanta's first white mayor since the '70s if she defeats Kasim Reed in today's runoff election—but the contest hasn't been as racially charged as some expected. A fifth of black voters favor Norwood and roughly the same proportion of whites favor Reed. The city's large gay community may prove the deciding factor, and both candidates have gone into overdrive seeking gay votes, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Polls show that the pair are neck-and-neck going into the election and both candidates went on the attack in their final debate. Norwood slammed her opponent for being a political insider working to serve special interests. Reed, a former state senator, called Norwood ineffective, pointing out that she has failed to chair a single committee during her 8 years as a city councilwoman.
(More Mary Norwood stories.)