ATLANTA -- Kasim Reed has taken an early lead over Mary Norwood in the race for the next mayor of Atlanta.

The two candidates are hoping to grab a critical mass of racial crossover votes, with victory likely hinging on black-versus-white turnout. With 73 percent of the precincts reporting, Reed held a 53 percent to 47 percent lead over Norwood.

Norwood, a white city councilwoman, and Reed, a black former state senator, have waged a hard-fought battle across the city and over the airwaves in the month leading up to Tuesday's runoff.

If elected, Norwood would be Atlanta's first white mayor in a generation.