ATLANTA -- Former governor Roy Barnes will endorse Atlanta mayoral candidate Kasim Reed, Channel 2 Action News reporter Lori Geary has confirmed with two sources.

Barnes will formally announce his endorsement for Reed Thursday afternoon. Barnes is currently a candidate for governor. He held the post from 1999 until 2003 when he was defeated by current governor Sonny Perdue.

On Wednesday, Reed picked up the backing of Lisa Borders, who finished third in the voting for mayor in the general election on Nov. 3. Reed faces Mary Norwood in a runoff on Dec. 1.

Borders met with Reed and Norwood before making her decision.

"Now is the time to lay aside our differences and work in the best interest of all citizens to ensure each has the opportunity to rise to their full potential. Senator Reed's ideas for afterschool recreation centers, his focus on public safety and his willingness to work toward increasing revenue opportunities for Atlanta are in line with my policy objectives," said Borders.

Norwood got 46 percent of the votes to Reed's 36 percent in the Nov. 3 election. Lisa Borders was third with 14 percent.