What people forget, and which really shows the real state of the Dems in Congress..is that moderate/liberal Denise Majette, who defeated McKinney in 2002, and had garned wide support from traditional dems from all around the country, gave up a safe, nay, life time seat in the House, after less then one term, for a kamikaze run for the Senate..because she realized that the CBC in the House was insane, and she wanted no part of it.. I'm not sure it wasn't because Denise realized that without the Republican crossovers in the 2004 primary, that she had in 2002, she would have lost the 2004 primary to McKinney.
Running for Senate gave her a relately graceful way out that increased her name recognition for future elected office.