Newsmakers Live

They say that money drives political races because historically it has proven true that the candidate that raises the most money arguably has the most support and more often then not wins on election day.  President Barack Obama, for example, raised much more money and spent much more money then Republican challenger John McCain.

If that political premise holds true with regard to the 2009 Atlanta Mayor’s race thus far then look out-Atlanta’s next mayor is likely to be a white female, Buckhead socialite and two-term Councilwoman Mary Norwood.  Or it could be Southwest Atlanta native and prohibitive favorite State Sen. Kasim Reed.

Both are neck and neck in fundraising, with political neophte attorney Jesse Spikes coming in third. 

According to campaign disclosure reports filed for 2008:

-Norwood raised $510,327.  She took in $393, 434 between July 1 and Dec. 31.  She reports having $275, 172 in cash on hand.

-Reed took in a total of $431, 479 with donations of $234,074 in the last six months.  He’s got a $328, 129 campaign war chest remaining, but unlike his opponents state law prohibits Reed from accepting contributions while the General Assembly is in session for the next two months.  That could prove to be a serious handicap.  Neverteless, Reed is a consummate campaigner and an immensely popular, prescient politician.

-Spikes surprisingly raised $235,157, but contributions to the virtually unknown candidate dropped to $82,452 since July.  He’s got $152,423 available now.

Other notables like Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts and 100 Black Men of America founder Tommy Dortch are expected to jump into the race but have not yet filed paperwork to raise money for the mayoral race.

Still the question is will the leading candidate in the mayoral money race win the election?  Will Norwood fool the pundits and win the support of Atlanta’s business community and become Atlanta’s first white mayor in 36 years?

I say not!  I say Kasim Reed is the candidate to beat, and that Dortch may give him a run for his money should he throw his hat in the ring.  What say you? 

Maynard Eaton, Executive Editor

How poetic, how profound that Roland Burris, the 71-year-old former Attorney General and now junior Senator from Illinois outsmarted the Senate leadership -beat them and left them without a legal leg to stand on!  He will be the next and only African American United States Senator.  I say good for him because he put up the good fight.  What say you?

Maynard Eaton, Newsmakers Live Exec. Editor