Controversial McKinney may regain seat

ATLANTA, June 22 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney. D-Ga., defeated in 2002 in part because of what opponents said were anti-Israel statements, is poised for a comeback.

McKinney was defeated in the 2002 primary by fellow Democrat Denise Majette. But with Majette running this year for a U.S. Senate seat, anti-McKinney forces have failed to coalesce around a single candidate in Georgia's 4th Congressional District, The Hill reported Tuesday.

"The enthusiasm for jumping into the fray is definitely less than it was two years ago," said anti-McKinney donor Larry Cooper, a veteran of the successful 2002 effort. "I'm not seeing a significant dollar flow anywhere, but that doesn't mean that if it got into a runoff it wouldn't start."

Other candidates in the race include Georgia state Sens. Connie Stokes and Nadine Thomas.

Candidates in Georgia must win a majority of ballots cast in a primary election or else the top two vote-getters advance to a runoff election.