Must-read stories in Thursday's AJC

By Richard Halicks

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Atlanta mayor’s race has become one of the most closely watched contests in the country.

Here's an excerpt:

Can the presumed front-runner, Councilwoman Mary Norwood, win the election outright on Tuesday and become the city’s first white mayor since  1974?

If not, who will compete against her in the Dec. 1 runoff?

Each campaign vows to canvass the city for votes in the final six days, so expect to see supporters waving campaign signs and offering voters rides to the polls. You'll also see mobile billboards, lots more TV ads and messages on Facebook and Twitter. Longtime political consultant Beth Schapiro expects more back and forth between Council President Lisa Borders and state Sen. Kasim Reed as well as those two coming after Norwood.

“Put on your mud guards,” Schapiro said. “It’s going to be flying.”

Where our reporters will be Thursday:

* A Senate study committee looking at property tax reform meets  at the Capitol for its initial session. Organizers are promising big change for 2010.

* The SCLC is expected to name its seventh president. Who will guide the troubled group that was founded by Martin Luther King Jr.? His daughter is among the candidates.

* AFLAC releases its third-quarter earnings.