Jim Martin to endorse Kasim Reed in ATL mayoral runoff
Jim Martin, who headed the Democratic ticket last year as a challenger to U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, will endorse Kasim Reed this afternoon in the runoff for mayor of Atlanta.
The announcement is scheduled for 3 p.m.
I’m looking, but seeing no evidence that Reed, then a state senator, endorsed Martin in his Senate race last year.
But Martin knows first hand how hard it is to get Democratic voters back to the polls five days after Thanksgiving – he got only 43 percent of the vote.
But the former state representative has a significant following in Atlanta. In that ‘08 runoff, Martin took three-quarters of the DeKalb County vote and 60 percent of the Fulton County vote.
So it’s an endorsement that can’t be dismissed as insignificant.
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54 comments Add your comment
Ira in East Lake
November 9th, 2009
2:18 pm
Go Kasim!
New Atlanta, New Day
November 9th, 2009
2:21 pm
That speaks volumes against Mary. I guess Jim Martin likes Kasim enough to support him over Mary? He has a record to endorse I guess.
Lisa Lisa
November 9th, 2009
2:28 pm
I’m still wondering who Lisa will endorse. Mary better put a stop to all this momentum Kasim is building.
General Sherman
November 9th, 2009
2:31 pm
Jim Martin is a very sick and weak minded individual. What did you receive for your endorsement? Why would Reed want your losing ass endorsement?
Reuben
November 9th, 2009
2:34 pm
I am tired of the same clique running everything in this city. The cronyism is awful. I’m almost inclined to support Mary just to shake things up. I almost hope that she wins just so the crooks holding airport concession contracts, Frank Ski, rappers, and the Atlanta Black Bourgouis are shaken to their core.
Jackalope
November 9th, 2009
2:35 pm
LOL. hahahahaha. LOL
So the guy who lost the last run off is going to endorse someone in the run off….wow. Who cares?
No one is going to choose Kasim or Mary because of what Jim Martin says…it’s all about turn out. And Jim Martin has already proven that he can’t. And because they share the same base, Kasim won’t either.
AH
November 9th, 2009
2:49 pm
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Lauren
November 9th, 2009
2:49 pm
This will help Kasim about as much as Ludacris’ endorsement of Jim Martin helped Martin…not at all.
Jack
November 9th, 2009
2:57 pm
I actually like Jim and voted for him BUT will have to disagree strongly with him on this one. This is a case of one lawyer endorsing another for business/political reasons no doubt. Mary represents change and is realistic about the city’s finances whereas Kasim’s proposal to hire 750 new officers is laughable for being so unrealistic. Sorry Jim, can’t follow your lead this time around buddy.
Say It Aint So
November 9th, 2009
3:01 pm
Does it matter who indorces who. Cant most of you decide who you want to run Atlanta without someone telling you who they think is good. The last 4 mayors stunk it up and our friend Shirley just doesnt want anyone to know exactly how bad she blew it. Its time for change all around here and Reed is not the person I want to do the job of hiding yet more of the previous mayors blunders. Notice I DID SAY BLUNDERS.
Clark Howard
November 9th, 2009
3:05 pm
Why didn’t I run in this mayoral race??
Talk about shooting fish in a barrel!!
Pick Up Truck Liberal
November 9th, 2009
3:06 pm
Martin’s endorsement pays off a debt to the Shirley Franklin / Maynard Jackson political machine that got out the “urban” vote for him in his attempt to knock off blowhard Saxby Chambliss. Expect Kasim to keep up the gravy train to the insiders of that machine. Sounds bad for everyone else including most folks in South Atlanta.
newA
November 9th, 2009
3:06 pm
It appears Reed is building the right kind of momentum at the right time.
Atl Resident
November 9th, 2009
3:13 pm
Reuben, what the heck you trying to say about crooks, rappers, and leadership. Don’t blame it all on them. What makes you think Norwood will make a dramatic change? Franklin said she would make a change but nothing has happened. But what’s all the fuss, City of Atlanta been having issues for years, its just gotten worse. And not just City of Atlanta but the leadership in state of Georgia could use a big makeover too.
Lee
November 9th, 2009
3:15 pm
As far as I’m concerned, Mr. Martin’s endorsement IS INSIGNIFCANT ! Why does he feel it necessary to make an endorsement anyway?
Ryan
November 9th, 2009
3:17 pm
Vote Change, vote Hope, vote Norwood!! hahahahaha!!
Proudly
November 9th, 2009
3:17 pm
@Reuben
It sounds like you’re grasping for reasons to support Norwood. Jim Martin and Kasim Reed are in no way in a clique and they are definitely not in the same clique. The fact of the matter is, Kasim is head and shoulders above Mary when it comes to ledership and vision.
Stop making excuses. For all Kasim’s apparent flaws, he’s just a better candidate than Norwood.
Proudly
November 9th, 2009
3:17 pm
@Reuben
It sounds like you’re grasping for reasons to support Norwood. Jim Martin and Kasim Reed are in no way in a clique and they are definitely not in the same clique. The fact of the matter is, Kasim is head and shoulders above Mary when it comes to ledership and vision.
Stop making excuses. For all Kasim’s apparent flaws, he’s just a better candidate than Norwood.
jconservative
November 9th, 2009
3:19 pm
I guess this is another nail in the “Norwood is not a Democrat” billboard that has been going up. You would think that the Georgia Democrats would be looking to expand, not contract, the state party.
Afterall, they are a minority party now.
Whit Dickman
November 9th, 2009
3:21 pm
Like any one really cares……Maybe Snoopy could endorse him as wel
Lee
November 9th, 2009
3:21 pm
If you want more of the same, then go ahead and vote for Reed. If you want your taxes to keep skyrocketing, then vote Reed. If you want inaccessibility to city hall, then vote Reed. If you want your utlilities to increase, then vote Reed. If you want to vote for the best candidate then … uh ….
vote Norwood !
Dick Whitman
November 9th, 2009
3:23 pm
This city desperately needs a great mayor.. Someone please
Larry
November 9th, 2009
3:24 pm
I don’t understand how Mary represents change when she has been a city-wide council person for 8 years. Nor have I heard from her any specific details of a plan to change things. 750 new officers and opening recreation centers is a good goal. And even if you don’t hit exactly those numbers, we all no having a concrete goal is a good thing. Does Mary have any concrete goals, or just broad sweeping statements like I want to reduce crime and I want to improve finances.
Bert
November 9th, 2009
3:25 pm
Lisa Borders is both irrelevant and delusional. She’s acting like Hillary Clinton. Unlike Hillary Clinton, she has no leverage, as she watches her former supporters (including Cousins) moving in droves to the Reed camp.
She will disappear into total irrelevance. Lisa who?
What
November 9th, 2009
3:27 pm
@jconservative
How does this “contract” the Democratic party of GA?
Elector
November 9th, 2009
3:31 pm
First, is this about getting “democratic” voters to a non partisan poll or have you gone over to the race baiter Jane Kidd side?
Second, if Martin finds more code words to inject race into the election he will join Kidd and Bunny in the Hall of Infamy that will last long, long after December1.
Joe Biden
November 9th, 2009
3:32 pm
Ever wonder why you “lemmings” need to be told who to vote for? Do your own research on the people running and decide on your on….look what all the endorsements got us…obuma.
HRH
November 9th, 2009
3:39 pm
It’s always politics on why someone choses to endorse.
What
November 9th, 2009
3:41 pm
@Elector
How is this endorsement about race baiting?
Independent Thinker
November 9th, 2009
3:42 pm
Actually, Jim Martin’s endorsement makes it easy to choose someone other than Reed. Too bad the choices are both very poor. I don’t see that either of them has the ability to run a city very well.
wow
November 9th, 2009
3:46 pm
Is not Jim Martin the same guy that got beat by about 20% last year, why is this endorsement significant. Is it safe to assume that since he’s white Kasim Reed payed for his endorsement in much the same way every time a black person supports Norwood people insist she paid for it.
Wow, Just Wow
November 9th, 2009
4:02 pm
I like Jim. I’ve donated to his campaigns. But, this just doesn’t matter.
Tedro
November 9th, 2009
4:06 pm
Another one for Kasim Reed, I like the momentum he’s building in this run-off. Maybe eevryone will see through finally Mary Norwood and her horrible candidacy.
Tedro
November 9th, 2009
4:06 pm
Another one for Kasim Reed, I like the momentum he’s building in this run-off. Maybe eevryone will see through finally Mary Norwood and her horrible candidacy.
boots
November 9th, 2009
4:09 pm
Seriously, who cares?
Doug
November 9th, 2009
4:10 pm
And I’m supposed to care about Jim Martin’s opinion because…
TINE
November 9th, 2009
4:11 pm
this IS WONDERFUL…I’M REALLY VOTING FOR MARY NOW…ALL THIS CRAP HAS PUSHED RIGHT INTO HER ARMS!!! NEW LEADERSHIP PLEASE……YEAH, GO MARY
GO MARY
GO MARY
GO MARY
TINE
November 9th, 2009
4:16 pm
OMG larry….idiot!!! rec centers???? really??? YOU ARE GETTING A K REED TAX INCREASE WITH THAT CRAP…is that really why you like him….wow….wow….WHAT HAS HE DONE???? K REED WILL RAISE YOUR TAXES SO SOME BLACK KIDS CAN PLAY BALL INDOORS…THEN HE IS GOING TO RAISE YOUR TAXES SOME MORE….DID YOU SEE THE D EBATES??? GUESS NOT…BORDERS NAILED HIM SO MANY TIMES….HE DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO ADD…HE DOESN’T HAVE RIGHT NUMBERS.
K REED = TAX INCREASE OH, AND A BUNCH OF REC CENTERS THAT I’M SURE WILL CUT OUR CRIME RATE!!!
susan
November 9th, 2009
4:21 pm
go mary
Kasim Rules!
November 9th, 2009
4:32 pm
Kasim will win this runoff easy! Atlanta needs an African-American mayor to look after the interests of all the minorities in the community, since the white people will not. African-Americans should vote Kasim, not Norwood!
tom
November 9th, 2009
4:41 pm
I should be obvious that Martin is backing Reed to ehance his political future with the black voters.
QueDawg12
November 9th, 2009
4:56 pm
I took a chance and googled the accomplishments of both Reed and Norwood and could find absolutely nothing on Norwood but several interesting readings (good and bad) about Reed!! What I did find were several endorsments quoting Norwood as a “strong community activist” which is great. What’s funny is how many Repubes used that same tag to discredit our President but now use it to support Norwood!!! WOW! We are such hypocrits. I hate politics because it is like the “whisper game” by the time it gets to you it is so off track and then you vote!!! LMAO!
PoliticOracle
November 9th, 2009
4:57 pm
It is sad that all YOU people reduce Reed’s support to racism and pandering. The truth is, he has recieved the most substaintive endorsements thus far and Jim Martin is another feather in his cap. Jim Martin gains nothing from endorsing Reed and for crying out loud, HE IS WHITE.
STOP MAKING EXCUSES…YOUR CANDIDATE IS WEAK AND SHE STANDS TO LOSE THE ELECTION BECAUSE OF IT. SHE IS KNOW DIFFERENT FROM SARAH PALIN, IN THAT MCCAIN THOUGHT HE COULD PANDER TO VOTERS WITH HER SELECTION. JUST AS PALIN’S FOLKSINESS SANK MCCAIN, MARY’S WILL DO THE SAME.
ATLborn
November 9th, 2009
4:57 pm
I could care less what color the next mayor of Atlanta is or is not. I like Kasim Reed and want him to win but I’d be fine with Mary Norwood. I’m not ready to jump up and down for either candidate but think either will do at least a decent job. Now I don’t like this crap Mary is talking about trying to get the city away from it’s nickname, “The ATL”. This is pure foolishness. Ppl have called New York “NYC”, Los Angeles “LA” and the like for years and no one has a problem with it. I have no idea why the ATL is viewed as so urban instead of modern. It sounds much better than “Hotlanta” which sounds stupid to me. ATL’s airport has used those initials for decades as its call signal but now that it’s the moniker for the city its too “urban” and is hurting convention business? Please! Mary needs to leave stupid things like that alone. Whomever gets the job as ATL’s next mayor wants to get to the bottom of the city losing out on tourist and convention dollars, may want to consider our Convention center is now the 5 largest in the country (thus we’re losing out to cities with larger convention halls)and the nightlife in the city limits is atrocious. Oh yeah, and the main reason we’re losing out on such business (drumroll please) no one wants to come to a city where they can’t walk 2 blocks without being accosted 5 times by begging bums that act as if they want to fight you if you don’t give them a handout. Take care of the homeless/beggar problem in the city limits then tourist/convention business would take off.
Holly Jensen
November 9th, 2009
5:25 pm
Does Jim Martin even matter anymore. Also, why would anyone want the endorsement of anyone who lost TWICE.
Uncle Tom
November 9th, 2009
5:54 pm
What does Frank Ski or any other radio personality have to do with this Reuben? Women rulers are always kinder and gentler. Go Mary!
Atl Resident
November 9th, 2009
6:37 pm
Tine, sounds like your the silly judgemental idot, seems like your dumbfounded not knowing the candidates, but Kasim or Norwood will not be able to stop the crime totally. That will only happen with more community support. But Damn, if this is how people are thinking for the runoff election, this city is still going to be in trouble.
Teela
November 9th, 2009
6:56 pm
Regarding Reed ‘opening the rec centers….LOL!.
Here in SW Atlanta, in Capitol View….at the Perkerson Park Rec Center…well, it’s taken over by the gangs already. You go up there and you take the risk of attracting their attention….you COULD go stand by the Muffie Memorial…(don’t ask) but the gangs are standing around there, too.
Seriously? Reed’s proposal is rather interesting. You need staff and probably police there because the gangs will use the area for recruiting. And that’s not considered?
You go down any street in Capitol View and see the groups of youth on the corners after school. Hell, during school hours…it’s called drug dealers.
I don’t know what the answer here is but it won’t be cheap. It better be well staffed, though.
and it better be in the budget. Already they have closed Rec centers to the neighborhood because of budget cuts. They did an expensive renovation on Perkerson Rec Center and nobody except some church on Sundays is allowed to use it.
Oh yeah…voting there last Tuesday. But Reed is going to open it for the youth. Yah.
LaShondra
November 10th, 2009
1:25 am
Kasim will bring a lot more money to the African-American community in Atlanta. All African-Americans need to change their vote from norwood to Kasim!! He’s the best candidate to protect our interests.
MC W
November 10th, 2009
4:16 am
^Looks like Kasim’s campaign staff is finally resorting to the most base tactics in their drawer.
Teela
November 10th, 2009
8:10 am
Why is it always “protect our (African-American) interests” from some blacks. Aren’t you part of Atlanta??? What about the interests of the ENTIRE city?
What if white people spoke of protecting ‘our’ interests as Georgians? And there are more whites in Georgia than blacks…..
But we don’t…we are Atlantans, and our interests SHOULD be for all Atlantans. But apparently that isn’t the concern of many black Atlantans.
WTF
November 10th, 2009
8:57 am
@LaShondra – Shouldn’t a Mayor work for all the citizens of a city? Not just one race? Seems like your statement is a pretty racist one to me. Sad thing is that I’m hearing this from a lot of people in the Black community. Racism is alive and well in Atlanta and it’s growing in the Black community. My vote is for Mary.
Teela
November 11th, 2009
10:28 am
WTF:: these kind of comments open my white liberal eyes and make me wonder. Well, not wonder because after 40 years in this city, I see that a big part of the black population is mired in this racism. It’s been there as long as I have been here, and it isn’t going to be changed.
People like Reed, Bunnie Jackson-Ransom, Franklin (and who can forget her/Lewis’/Young’s radio spot about dogs and fire hoses???? quite a setback for decency there…but I guess we are supposed to overlook that??) feed off of this.
The young black men who tell black people to vote for Reed because ‘he’s one of them’
are pulling on that racism.
I’ll vote for Norwood because at least she’s not the same old s****t that we have been fed for years. And in 4 years we can turn her out and look for more solutions.
So it goes…nothing changes in Atlanta because of______fill in the blanks.
Truth be told
November 15th, 2009
9:37 pm
Kasim Reed is Cracker Barrel’s defense attorney against discrimination lawsuits:
He does not deserve to be mayor in the birthplace of civil rights:
One of the most controversial clients that Reed represented was the national restaurant chain Cracker Barrel, which historically would neither serve Black customers nor employ homosexuals.
Go here: http://www.atlantaprogressivenews.com/news/0546.html