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GREENSBORO — From the look of things, it could be anybody’s game.

In Tuesday night’s City Council at-large primary, only 1,684 votes separated top finisher Nancy Vaughan and sixth-place finisher Marikay Abuzuaiter.

All will go on to the election Nov. 3.

It was the narrowest spread in the past decade of at-large primaries.

But the semifinals aren’t always an indication of performance in the championship.

Although the vote totals were encouraging for first-time candidates, they may or may not be a preview of what happens in November.

“You had a lot of people who got out yesterday who were a very small, focused group of voters. That is typical of a primary,” Councilman Robbie Perkins said Wednesday.

Fundraising, endorsements and voter turnout could all sway the outcome in November.

Only 6 percent of registered voters citywide cast ballots in the primary.

A contested mayoral race and a $20 million bond initiative for the Natural Science Center could encourage a better citywide turnout in November.

Broader citywide voting could help candidates who have name recognition.

More voting in Districts 1 and 2 could also boost numbers for the at-large incumbents, Sandra Anderson Groat and Robbie Perkins, who earned more than 1,350 votes each in those districts despite relatively low turnout.

“I have good relationships in District 1 and 2,” Groat said. “If you look at my record that is my really largest voting bunch.”

Key endorsements also could change the race.

Fourth-place finisher Danny Thompson, fifth-place finisher Gary Nixon and Vaughan all said they believe endorsements helped them make it through the primary.

And there are still endorsements to be handed out between now and Election Day, including backing from the George C. Simkins Jr. Memorial Political Action Committee.

It’s an influential group in the black community.

“Certainly, I think it’s beneficial,” Vaughan said of the committee’s endorsement. “There was pretty low voter turnout in Districts 1 and 2. That will certainly sway results.”

Money also has its advantages in a close race.

Nearly all the candidates plan to devote some time in the next month raising money to spread their campaign messages.

Thompson, a Greensboro native, started off his Wednesday morning with congratulations and donations.

“It’s real nice when people just drop off checks,” he said.

But he said old-fashioned word-of-mouth helped his candidacy.

“I think people like the message that I am bringing forth,” Thompson said.

“I think they would like to see change of some form on the City Council.”

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com