Posted on 04/23/2012 7:57:57 AM PDT by Prov1322
Former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney is preparing to run for her old 4th Congressional district seat on the Green Party ticket.
Andy Manis, AP Cynthia McKinney, a former congresswoman, ran for president as the Green Party candidate in 2008.
McKinney was defeated by 4th district incumbent Hank Johnson in 2006 after serving six terms in Congress and has kept a low profile since returning to Atlanta from the San Francisco area where she moved in 2007.
Since February she has made a few public appearances in her old district but stayed low key with her plans. She filed paperwork April 2 with the Federal Elections Commission declaring her intention to run.
Tracked down at her mothers home Thursday by a reporter from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, McKinney declined to comment and ordered the reporter off the property.
Last week she was recruiting volunteers to collect the 18,860 signatures of registered voters shell need by August 6 to get on the newly redrawn 4th district ballot, according the Georgia Secretary of States office.
A lightning-rod political figure, McKinney, 55, was defeated in 2006 by Johnson after a much-publicized run-in with a U.S. Capitol police officer and her accusations that the Bush administration may have known beforehand about the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
In 2008 she won the Green Party nomination and ran for president. McKinney and running mate Rosa Clemente were on the ballot in 31 states, but not Georgia.
The party had hoped with McKinney's name recognition to get at least 5% of the vote so the party would automatically be on the 2012 ballot in all 50 states. She got less than 1 percent of the vote.
In the summer of 2009, McKinney made international news for her involvement in the Free Gaza Movement, during which she was detained after a ship she was aboard carrying humanitarian supplies was stopped by the Israeli Navy for allegedly running a blockade.
Back in Atlanta, McKinneys associates in the Green Party which she joined in 2007 after quitting the Democratic Party have closed ranks in support.
Her former Green Party campaign manager, Hugh Esco, said Wednesday he could not confirm McKinney plans to run, as first reported by the Atlanta Progressive News. I would call that report a wild rumor, said Esco.
Frank Redding, a friend of McKinneys late father, former state legislator Billy McKinney, who has known Cynthia since childhood, said Thursday hes not surprised to hear shes back in her old district and making the rounds for a political rebirth.
Shes been around and been more visible and I believe shes going to make a run, though Ive not had a personal conversation with her, said Redding. But anywhere she runs in South Dekalb County shes going to be viable.
The new District 4 contains about two-thirds of DeKalb County including the cities of Stone Mountain and Scottdale, and portions of Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale counties.
Other former supporters question whether McKinney has the resources or enough remaining clout and presence in the district she left six years ago to get the signatures needed to get on the ballot.
Thats going to be the real challenge for her, said John Evans, who handled McKinneys last congressional campaign, in 2006.
Jan Selman, a Decatur political consultant and former McKinney supporter who backed Hank Johnson in 2006, said she still supports Johnson, and doubts most voters will "get off the rail" and vote Green Party, no matter the candidate.
She said she would never underestimate McKinney. "She's a very determined person," said Selman. But we need someone in the 4th district with tenure. Hanks been in there three terms. I cant see that changing right now.
,,,,, they always head for the tall grass when the search is on .
If ever a bounty was warranted.
I don't believe Rockdale will take to jihad Cindy very well.
Instead fear the countless idiots within the body politic that believe these scoundrels are their representatives.
Aside from their vote......also fear that these idiots are allowed to drive on the same streets as you.
That’s a pretty big could. Johnson won in ‘10 with 75-25; John Lewis in the neighboring 5th won with 74-26, and David Scott won with 69-31.
How do you figure Vaughn (or any R nominee) needs anything below 35%? And that’s only if Johnson and McKinney split the remaining vote equally.
What was the lowest percentage to win a Congressional seat?
Off the top of my head NM-2 1980: Joe Skeen 38%, David King 34%, Dorothy Runnels 28%.
(I recall the race — had to look up the numbers)
I dunno, it could be that kind of ABO year.
Just like our own Sheila Jackson Lee. Hard to imagine a whole district of folks dumber than she is. (unless you’ve been to that district)
Yep. She’s the perfect poster child for the Democrats.
Ugly, angry, ignorant, and stupid.
I think both of them have flickering porch lights......
Corrine Brown?
It looks like only because it was a special election did Juanita Millender-McDonald (CA-37) win a 9-way race in March 1996 with 27%.
However different rules govern general elections.
Remember when she lost in 2006 her and her boys were caught on camera blaming her loss on the Jews? And I bet you nobody brings that up when she is running again.
I think the more serious fact is that she has *no* relationship with *morality or decency*.
As ignorant & camera hog as Queen Sheila is, she is far more vocal & engaged than my own District 22 Representative, Pete Olson. ...so disappointed in this guy, there just isn't any fight in him.
I live in Atlanta, and offer the following word of caution: Do not, under any circumstances, underestimate the stupidity of her constituents.
The bish is crazy and dangerous. A combination that plays to her district of ebonic speaking peoples.
Isn’t that your district? Sadly I think she would have a good chance of winning.
No, I’m in GA-6th, Newt’s old seat, now held by Dr. Tom Price, who is pretty good.
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