McKinney to Seek Former House Seat

Cynthia McKinney, the former Georgia congresswoman defeated after accusing President Bush of ignoring warnings of the Sept. 11 attacks, qualified Friday to seek her old seat.

Known for her outspoken and often provocative comments during five terms in Congress, McKinney was asked if she had mellowed during her two-year absence from Washington.

“I have continued to speak out against George Bush’s war and I will continue to speak out against George Bush’s war,” she told supporters.

She qualified on the final day to place her name on the July 20 Democratic primary ballot.

McKinney attributed her defeat two years ago to a strong Republican crossover vote in a state where party registration was not required.

“No one could have predicted the massive Republican crossover that took place,” she said. “But now that hand has been shown and so we will have a massive get-out-the-vote effort.”

The 4th Congressional District is composed mostly of heavily Democratic DeKalb County, east of Atlanta. The incumbent, Democrat Denise L. Majette, who defeated McKinney two years ago, had decided to run for the U.S. Senate seat of retiring Democrat Zell Miller. Former Atlanta City Council president Cathy Woolard is among other Democrats running.

With just hours to go before qualifying ended at noon, there were no Republican candidates.