McKinney faces runoff; CBC divided

[CatWoman]

*sigh*

McKinney now faces an uphill battle to hold on to her seat and Johnson is the likely front-runner, political observers said.

Black lawmakers, who are among her most loyal supporters, had mixed reactions to the results of the race. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) predicted that most of her congressional colleagues would not rally to her aid.

“Some will, but a great majority will distance themselves. It’s called ‘avoidingitis,’” he said. “We avoid her. Cynthia won’t approach people beyond her real friends.”

But others were more sanguine.

Rep. Albert Wynn (D-Md.), chairman of the CBC’s political action committee, said the group would continue to support McKinney.

“The first principle of the CBC PAC is to support our incumbent members. ... If she’s an endangered incumbent, we’ll do everything we can to protect her,” Wynn said.

Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.), chairman of the CBC, said that he was “surprised and disappointed” and that he would give to McKinney’s campaign.

“I don’t think anybody viewed that she was in a distressed race. ... I was personally disappointed. She’s an outstanding representative. She represents her district well,” Watt said.

One CBC member denied that McKinney had been damaged politically by her much-publicized tussle with police.

“I don’t know anybody here who’s pure as the driven snow. Everybody has baggage. Everybody,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). “Obviously, knows how to be political. The congresswoman will have to redouble her efforts.”

Black noted that turnout in the district had dropped to 60,000 voters from 95,000 voters in 2004. McKinney lost 20,000 votes from 2004; her total vote dropped to 28,000 from 48,000. She and Johnson ran evenly in DeKalb County, the district’s largest county, but she lost in Gwinnett and Rockdale counties.

“She’s so polarized the district that half who show up will be opposed to her,” Black said.

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/072006/news3.html

[Horse with no Name]

1. A moehill begets a mountain

The Republicans will see to it every time.
Incredibly sad...but considering that the Republicans would like nothing more than to see McKinney out of office, they never have to look very hard to find willing Democrats to carry the water for them.

[CatWoman]

2. kick for the day crowd

:kick:

[SoCalDem]

3. Becoming a lightning rod often attracts lightning.

She will have to really work hard and hopefully get some good press.. (not much hope there:(..)

[CatWoman]

4. when the news started reporting the results from the precincts

you could have sworn that she didn't have a chance in hell.

they were so BIASED and dismissal of her.

[WI_DEM]

5. I read yesterday in USA Today and don't know if it is true or not

but that she didn't participate in two debates with her Democratic opponent and generally campaigned by e-mail, press releases, and dvd--rather than getting out and meeting voters. As I say that is what I read and since I don't live there I'm not sure, but it might explain why she didn't clearly win the primary and is in a run-off.

[CatWoman]

6. it's true about the debates

from the article:

McKinney may have been hurt by a bizarre incident this spring in which she struck a U.S. Capitol Police officer with her cell phone after he did not recognize her and asked to see her identification at the entrance to a House office building. A grand jury declined to indict her.

She also failed to appear at two televised debates leading up to the primary.