Norwood far outspent mayoral rivals in October

By Cameron McWhirter and Eric Stirgus

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In the final month of Atlanta’s mayoral campaign, City Councilwoman Mary Norwood spent $632,000 — more than her two leading opponents combined, according to financial disclosure reports filed Friday evening.

City Council President Lisa Borders spent $303,000 in the latest reporting period and listed among her contributors former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn and basketball legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving. Former state Sen. Kasim Reed spent about $273,000 and reported contributions from NBA stars Shaquille O’Neal and Jamal Crawford.

Borders released her full disclosure report; Reed released most of his; but Norwood did not supply any detail on her contributors or individual expenses.

The reports show the three candidates each had less than $170,000 in cash left in the final week before the Nov. 3 election. The three all spent tens of thousands of dollars more in that final week reaching out to voters through TV, radio and other means, but that last spurt of spending will not be disclosed until after the election.

Norwood campaign manager Roman Levit said the massive amount of money she spent in October was part of the campaign strategy to flood the airwaves with television commercials and radio ads.

“We weren’t saving the money so we can say we were saving it,” Levit said. “This was always our plan to do what we needed to do.”

Levit said the campaign hopes to win the election on Tuesday without being forced into a runoff on Dec. 1, but said, “If the runoff happens, we will be ready.”

They will have to raise cash to do it. Combined, the three have spent more than $4 million on the race.

The candidates have had trouble raising money, which they largely blame on the recession. In 2001, Shirley Franklin raised about $4 million for her successful mayoral bid. In 2009, Reed has raised a total of $1.6 million; Norwood is second at $1.5 million; and Borders has raised $1.3 million.

In the final weeks, Reed, who raised and spent more money than any other candidate, made a personal loan to his campaign of close to $100,000.

“Kasim felt that was important to have more time with voters directly and spend less time in a call room raising money,” said spokesman Reese McCranie.

From Oct. 1 to Oct. 25, Borders brought in the most contributions — about $197,000. Norwood raised about $173,000, and Reed about $129,000. He lent his campaign $98,000.

As of Oct. 25, Reed had the most money on hand, with more than $166,000. Norwood was second with about $161,000. Borders had about $127,000.

Borders campaign spokeswoman Liz Flowers said she wasn’t worried about campaign funding and planned on doing well Tuesday.

“We think we’re in good shape,” she said.

The disclosures do not show expenditures for the final week of the race, during which all three candidates spent tens of thousands on television ads, signs, radio ads and other ways to sway voters before the Nov. 3 election.

The candidates were required to deliver their latest disclosure reports to the city on Friday. The Borders campaign gave The Atlanta Journal-Constitution her complete disclosure report, including listings of her contributors and her expenditures.

Among Borders’ contributors in October were Nunn ($500); Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church ($2,400); Erving ($2,400); and the city’s current chief operating officer, Greg Giornelli ($1,500).

Norwood campaign officials said they did not yet have a comprehensive report of contributions and expenses and could only supply the totals of how much Norwood raised and spent.

Reed’s campaign sent the AJC a report showing his total contributions and expenditures, plus a list of contributors. In addition to O’Neal and Crawford (both gave $2,500), he also listed contributions from Turner Broadcasting System ($1,000), and U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) who had already endorsed Reed ($1,000).

Reed did not supply details on what his campaign spent its money on between Oct. 1 and Oct. 25.