Text 21746, 57 rader
Skriven 2006-08-09 08:20:18 av John Hull (1:123/789.0)
Ärende: McKinney Loses!
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McKinney Sings, Ends Campaign
Web Editor: Tracey Christensen
Last Modified: 8/9/2006 7:50:14 AM

In a bizarre end to her reelection campaign, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney
gathered her supporters around her and attempted to sing along to a song by
Pink and the Indigo Girls called "Dear Mr. President."

"Let me tell you about hard work, minimum wage with a baby on the way,"
McKinney sang out as the song played in the background. Eventually, McKinney
conceded the race at 12:36 a.m. with one sentence: "I wish the new
representative of the 4th Congressional District well."

Former two-term DeKalb County commissioner Hank Johnson declared victory over
the incumbent Congresswoman Tuesday night as 100 percent of the precincts
showed his lead at 59 to 41 percent (check the latest results). Technical
problems that earlier delayed results in the 4th District were later fixed.
(read related story).

"It's time for us to pull together, to heal the wounds that have been opened by
the campaign and for everyone to come together and accept each other as they
are and to move forward together," Johnson said in accepting the nomination.

"I welcome dialogue with my opponents and I look forward to working with them
through the transition so that we can have a smooth entry into Washington."

It was McKinney's first reelection campaign since her scuffle with a Capitol
Hill police officer in March. At the McKinney headquarters at the Omega Center
in Decatur, 11Alive's Donna Lowry reported during a live Webcast for
11Alive.Com that McKinney's supporters had gathered to celebrate. Even after
Johnson accepted the Democratic nomination, McKinney’s campaign manager, John
Evans, said, "It's not over until it's over."

The precincts that typically showed the most support for McKinney in South
DeKalb County were among the last to report results Tuesday night. However,
11Alive's Denis O'Hayer pointed out that Johnson represented part of South
DeKalb as county commissioner and would pick up votes there as well. The
Associated Press declared Johnson the winner at 11:09 p.m.

At the Johnson camp at the Holiday Inn in Decatur, the Democratic nominee's
supporters countered attacks by McKinney that most of Johnson's financial
support came from Republicans who simply want McKinney out of office.

"The bulk of the money, the overwhelming majority of his support has come from
the district," said long-time supporter Barbara Ingram.

The number of donations topping $1,000 for the Johnson campaign had surged in
the time between the primary and runoff, 11Alive's O'Hayer reported.

After her return to Washington, the typically controversial McKinney kept a
relatively low profile until the scuffle with the officer captured national
headlines. A grand jury found no reason to indict McKinney for criminal
wrongdoing. However, Johnson seemed to benefit from the negative publicity and
landed within just 1,700 votes of McKinney in the three-candidate primary.

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