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Political Insider

Shirley Franklin says she’ll vote for Kasim Reed in ATL race for mayor

6:12 pm November 2, 2009, by jgalloway

This just posted by CNN:

In an exclusive interview, Mayor Shirley Franklin told CNN’s Don Lemon that she plans to vote for former Georgia state lawmaker Kasim Reed in Tuesday’s election.

“Is that an official endorsement?” asked Lemon.

“That’s just telling you the truth,” Franklin responded. “I’m going to vote for him. I think he has the best set of skills. He has really been there to do some tough things over the state. He has Republican and Democratic support. . . . even though there are other candidates who have obviously some strengths, I think, through it all, he has the best chance of working in the region and the state.”

Franklin singled out Reed’s work in helping Atlanta deal with its water shortage issues, adding that “there are reasons to support each of the candidates” – but added that she has previously said she does not think Atlanta City Councilwoman Mary Norwood has the skills to be Atlanta’s chief executive.

Reed acted as Franklin’s campaign manager during her two runs for mayor in 2001 and 2005, so her choice isn’t a surprise.

And while some might wonder at the last-minute timing of her statement, remember that in 2004, the mayor of Atlanta waited until the night before Super Tuesday to endorse John Kerry in the Democratic presidential primary.

Editor’s note: Given the impending Atlanta mayoral election, instant commenting has been closed on the Political Insider blog. Readers are invited to submit comments on all posts, which will be published as soon as possible after review.

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34 comments Add your comment

Politics At Its Finest

November 2nd, 2009
6:16 pm

That’s a soft endorsement. Interesting.

Krooked Kasimmm

November 2nd, 2009
6:17 pm

Kasim will divide this city like never before. Please do not vote for him!
http://www.notkasim.blogspot.com

Wow, Just Wow

November 2nd, 2009
6:17 pm

It had to come at some point…

Canopy

November 2nd, 2009
6:42 pm

Wooooomp!

Atlanta

November 2nd, 2009
6:49 pm

Talk about the kiss of death. I guess misery really does love company.

Ms. B. Boop (That Original Gal Named Betsy)

November 2nd, 2009
7:19 pm

Kiss of death.

Truth be told

November 2nd, 2009
8:06 pm

Translation: AFSME endoresment for Reed – “8 more years, 8 more years, 8 more years”.

Voice of Reason #1

November 2nd, 2009
8:22 pm

Uh..Original Gal…did you mean “Betty” Boop?

To any intelligent voter, since Shirley is backing Kasim, he can forget it. She would’ve done better [for him] by keeping her mouth shut until after the election. As others, have said, her endorsement is the kiss of death. Mary Norwood to the finish line if you people get out and vote. Please, NO RUNOFF!!!

usoo

November 2nd, 2009
8:41 pm

So Shirley finally reached a deal with Kasim on protecting her family’s contracts at Atlanta Airport????

J GORDON -- email sent by mistake before i cld spell correct! pls publish his version!!!!

November 2nd, 2009
8:51 pm

OK, so I am going to vote for someone because somebody tells me to and that someone raised my taxes 40%; leaves us with a $140m deficit ad a pension fund under funded by $150m; a public safety department in disarray and $30m in neighborhood redevelopment money that we likely will return to the feds because the bureaucrats cant process the paper to distribute the money…hmm, now let me think about that!

ATL Handicapper

November 2nd, 2009
9:41 pm

Election Day is tomorrow and for those of you who followed the Vote-O-Meter, it still predicts a run-off for mayor. The final general election Vote-O-Meter forecast is Mary Norwood 41%; Kasim Reed – 29%; Lisa Borders – 24%; Jesse Spikes – 5%, Kyle Keyser – 1%; Peter Brownlowe and Write-In Candidates – 0%. The Vote-O-Meter is already realigning and retuning its algorithms for the run-off

Truth be told

November 2nd, 2009
9:50 pm

Kasim Reed = Status Quo at city hall.

Election Eve Pontificator

November 2nd, 2009
9:55 pm

Contrary to what all the posters here say, Mayor Franklin still garners a great deal of respect in MANY circles inside the City and beyond for her courage in taking on the City’s water, ethics and other issues in stark contrast to former Mayor Campbell. As to finances, her supposed Achilles heel, she now has former Bellsouth CFO Jim Glass who is kicking butt and taking names. Franklin is honest, courageous and the City’s strongest advocate.

If Mary Norwood is elected, you all will certainly wonder in a few months what in the heck you were thinking, attacking Franklin this way.

8 More Years of Mary Norwood

November 2nd, 2009
10:30 pm

Mary Norwood has just done such a fabulous job on City Council–and it shows! She leaves us with a $140m deficit and a pension fund under-funded by $150m; a public safety department in disarray and $30m in neighborhood redevelopment money that we likely will return to the feds because the bureaucrats cant process the paper to distribute the money.
She’s been there for the past 8 wonderful years and been part of the fine institution of City Hall. Of course it’s only right that she now become mayor!
Eight more years of the disfunctional garbage we’ve already had! Yay! Eight more years of Mary Norwood!

Ms.atl

November 2nd, 2009
10:41 pm

Ok here we go again with stupid remarks about Kasim and his endorsement but in this recession . You should want him as mayor simply to get through to the people you can not lock everybody up.I sure your the same one that voted for Bush well we see where that got us!

Ms.atl

November 2nd, 2009
10:47 pm

Continue living in FEAR buying guns the crooks have guns its win lose or draw now you cant really believe Norwood is ready for what a joke. L O L

DW

November 2nd, 2009
10:56 pm

I’m with Politics At Its Finest. That is a soft endorsement. It wasn’t, “Yes, I support or endorse Kasim Reed.” It’s “I’m going to vote for him.” Sounds like something between them broke down.

Angry Taxpayer

November 2nd, 2009
11:17 pm

Thank God she will soon be gone. The most inempt Administration Atlanta has ever had. It will truly, unfortunately, be one for the history books!

BK

November 2nd, 2009
11:42 pm

I love Atlanta . Contrary to many of the comments there is enough talent in the mayoral race to produce a leader that can set it on the proper course for recovery. I like Kasim and believe he is pro business and a pragmatist who will make the hard choices. He is a critical thinker that doesnt shrink from the tough questions. I just hope that the good people of the city give him a chance. If not I still hope for the best for the city

Actually Good For Norwood!

November 3rd, 2009
12:03 am

That should bode well for Mary Norwood at the polls.

Stands to reason that Franklin would cut a deal with Reed.

Let’s leave all of those under-the-table deals in the past.

The Late Maynord Jackson

November 3rd, 2009
5:47 am

I will be voting from the grave for Kasim Reed 10 times or more. He is the man to protect the business interest of my friends and family’s no bid contracts.

Mark

November 3rd, 2009
6:59 am

Another reason to vote for Norwood.

dgroy

November 3rd, 2009
7:17 am

Well, Duh??? Who’d you think she’d vote for……Mary Norwood,….a white? Birds of a feather flock together.

Politics At Its Finest

November 3rd, 2009
7:32 am

To me it reads she will vote for him because she has to choose one person.

That is hardly an endorsement.

Matt

November 3rd, 2009
8:22 am

Shirley Franklin’s statement of who she is voting for solidifies it for me – I will vote Mary Norwood all the way. The majority of Black voters are even for her. Even they are sick of the “same old politics as usual” B.S. all the other candidates represent. We need change for everyone, not just the current politicians friends and family.

Ms. B. Boop (That Original Gal Named Betsy)

November 3rd, 2009
8:43 am

Voice of Reason, My name is Betsy Boop. I know of the Betty Boop you’re referring to; cute kid, but a bit too fast for my tastes. Boop-boop-ah-doop!

Jackalope

November 3rd, 2009
8:49 am

Fact: Neither Reed or Borders asked for the endorsement.

Why?: Because Reed’s slogan is “New Leadership for a New Direction” and Shirley has plummeted in their internal polling in terms of job approval. She represents the past while every Mayoral candidate is campaigning against the status quo. Shirley is the status quo.

There was no one…and I mean NO ONE who was waiting to see who Shirley would vote for so that they could vote for that person.

Results tonight:

Norwood: 49.5
Reed: 28
Borders: 15
Other: 7

PoliticOracle

November 3rd, 2009
9:19 am

Shirley Franklin’s endorsement of Mr. Reed will bode well for him. She is still a widely popular mayor and beyond popularity, many respect her. All of you non-Atlantans and and race baiters will be shocked tonight when the polls close. Reed has trounced Norwood in the past few days and the polls will reflect accordingly.

Open your mind and do more research and maybe you wouldn’t hate this courageous woman, who ended her 2nd term in the midst of the worst economic morass in 80 years. Kasim Reed will be mayor and though he isn’t perfect; he has a clear plan, a great track record and youthful energy.

BTW @dgroy, you should read the study that shows whites likelihood of supporting other whites dwarfs African-Americans doing the same. Whites are the ones that vote along racial lines.

Black Latino Council

November 3rd, 2009
9:46 am

To the undecided voter – we carry the key to Atlanta Mayors race and we can either bring ms norwood a slam dunk tonight or create a run off.

please vote early and call, text, fb or twitter your friends in atlanta to VOTE..

RaceCop

November 3rd, 2009
10:17 am

If the white girl win it is racist.

PoliticOracle

November 3rd, 2009
11:05 am

@Jackalope,

Norwood won’t crack 40%, I guaruntee it!

Thinking

November 3rd, 2009
1:15 pm

I’m still undecided about who I’m voting for. But I KNOW I’m not voting for Mary Norwood. She has done nothing in 8 years as a council member. Nada. Did she vote to increase the pensions of city workers? Yes. She did vote in favor of raising the water rates for city residents? Yes. When people were getting robbed and killed due to a lack of police, did she do the pragmatic thing and do whatever it is that was necessary to protect Atlanta citizens (#1 priority)? NO.

Its all politics with her. I was skeptical on Reed with his ties to Shirley, and his lack of executive experience, however we may need someone who can work with numerous stakeholders. Borders has the experience, but her campaign has been dropping the last two weeks and I don’t want my vote to be split and Mary Norwood is elected Mayor w/o a run-off. What to do, what to do.

Post Our Positive Norwood Comments!

November 3rd, 2009
4:20 pm

Galloway, Why aren’t you posting our positive comments about Norwood?

Are you blocking everything positve about Mary Norwood? Six people in our office have responded with comments to your pro-Reed, anti-Norwood blogs, but you just aren’t posting any of our comments.

We will go back to making our comments on TWITTER and calling
@politicalinsidr and @AJC out for your anti-journalistic approach to covering the election!

Scottbravesfan

November 3rd, 2009
5:39 pm

Who is the candidate that is for being tough on crime and making the mass transit system actually functional in Atlanta?