ATLANTA (AP) - Early election results show Atlanta councilwoman
Mary Norwood leading in the race for the city's next mayor, although she was several points shy of avoiding a runoff.

Front-runners Norwood, city council President Lisa Borders and state Sen. Kasim Reed have battled for weeks, and most political observers say the race is far from over and likely headed for a Dec. 1 runoff.

Unofficial results show Norwood garnering 45 percent of the vote with 14 percent of the precincts reporting. Close behind was Reed with 37 percent. Borders was in third with 14.5 percent.

If elected, Norwood would become the city's first white mayor in a generation.

Atlanta has had a long line of black mayors going back to 1973.

Current Mayor Shirley Franklin, the city's first female mayor, was
barred from seeking a third term.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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