Where is Mary Norwood?

By Ernie Suggs

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

On Thursday morning, Mary Norwood's camp called an afternoon press conference to talk about political endorsements in the mayor's race.

By Thursday afternoon, the news conference happened, but Norwood was a no show.

Campaign manager Roman Levit and spokesperson Zee Bradford said their candidate was out campaigning, but didn't specify where she was, or why she wasn't meeting with the media herself.  Levit said Norwood was visiting firefighters Wednesday and would not be available.

"Mary is out campaigning. She started at 5 a.m. this morning," Bradford said. "It is not a secret. She is not dodging the media."

Norwood's absence was striking  because her opponent Kasim Reed had one of his biggest days in the runoff season by securing the endorsement of former Gov. Roy Barnes.

On Wednesday, after former candidate and City Council President Lisa Borders confirmed her endorsement of Reed, Norwood held a photo op with war veterans at the National Museum of Patriotism.

After praising veterans, she answered one question about the campaign, before it was abruptly cut off. Bradford said that event was for the veterans, not politics and called it unfair that Norwood has been classified as being inaccessible this week.

Bradford said she called Thursday's meeting with the press to address -- or more specifically, downplay -  endorsements.

"Mary Norwood has a clear and documented track record of having always been someone who stands up for all Atlantans against the politicians and the special interests," Bradford said. "Voters know that a string of endorsements from politicians is nothing more than politics as usual."

Aside from Barnes, Reed has picked up former State Rep. Jim Martin and City Council President Lisa Borders this week. He can also count the likes of Mayor Shirley Franklin and former mayor Andrew Young in his column.

Norwood has garnered the endorsement of  newly-minted state Rep. Ralph Long. Norwood's camp has long contended that her lack of endorsements from politicians validates her as an outsider.

Norwood has gathered several organizational endorsements, including the Atlanta Professional Firefighters Association and easily  outpaced her five opponents in the general election, collecting 46 percent of the vote.

"An endorsement is just politics as usual," said Levit, who added that the camp did ask for Border's support. "Politicians trying to protect their status quo are going to stick together."

Late Thursday, Levit said that Norwood was actually out filming a commercial Thursday.

Bradford said that Norwood will campaign Friday along Cleveland Avenue.