ATLANTA – Cynthia McKinney (search), 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 blamed her defeat two years ago on a strong Republican crossover vote in a state where party registration is 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 DeKalb County (search), immediately east of Atlanta. It is heavily Democratic.
The incumbent, Democrat Denise Majette (search), defeated McKinney two years ago but now is running for the U.S. Senate seat to replace retiring Democrat Zell Miller (search).
Several other Democrats are also running, including former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard.
With just hours to go before qualifying ended at noon, there were no Republican candidates for the seat.
McKinney was widely criticized for saying Bush ignored warnings of the Sept. 11 attacks, and for scolding former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (search) for returning a Saudi prince's donation for Sept. 11 victims.
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