ATLANTA – The campaign for Georgia's primary elections has come to a boil with two races revealing internal party rifts and close contests that could oust some of the most partisan candidates in Congress.
In the 4th District, polls show Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney, a five-term incumbent, in a statistical dead heat with former state judge Denise Majette.
"She's in the race of her life, I'm her worst nightmare," Majette told Fox News recently.
McKinney has many loyal followers in her suburban Atlanta district but much of her support comes from out of state from controversial figures like Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
"May God bless Cynthia. May God protect her. And may God hopefully grant her victory!" Farrakhan said during a campaign stop last weekend.
While adored by her followers, McKinney has angered and alienated many others.
Though not in her district, black farmers in rural, south Georgia claim McKinney lied about assisting them, and former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that McKinney has been using an old recording of him endorsing the congresswoman from a previous election. He has decided not to take sides in this year's race.
When New York Mayor Rudolph Guiliani turned down a Sept. 11 relief donation from a Saudi prince because of his negative comments toward U.S. policy in the Middle East, McKinney apologized to the prince, and asked him to contribute the money to black causes in America.
"With respect to our campaign contributions, let me say that we don't racially profile our contributors," she explained in a recent debate with Majette.
Majette is the first black female to run against McKinney within her own party in a district that is roughly 50 percent black.
"Better schools, lower taxes, affordable health care and economic development that's what the people need and they haven't been getting it from her," Majette said in the debate.
While McKinney commands strong support from lower income black voters, Majette enjoys the support of the district's growing population of black professionals, as well as white voters and many in the Jewish community who have made large campaign contributions.
Georgia's 4th Congressional District is predominantly Democratic and the winner of the primary is expected to win the general election so many republicans were expected to cross over in Tuesday's vote in support of Majette.
Another notable Georgia race pits two incumbent Republicans against each other.
Conservatives Bob Barr and John Linder had their districts redrawn by Georgia's Democratic Legislature - and now, the two sitting congressmen battle for political survival in the new 7th District.
Barr, remembered for his leadership role in the Clinton impeachment hearings, said he wants voters to know that he is the more vocal representative and that voters should see their congressman.
While the two have very similar voting records, the Barr camp accuses Linder of being a back-bencher.
A staunch Second Amendment supporter, Barr's campaign has been haunted by the recent accidental firing of a gun that was handed to congressman at a fundraiser.
A Linder supporter tried to embarass Barr by appearing at one of his campaign events dressed as the wild, gun-toting Yosemite Sam. Barr's son shoved the detractor and the minor incident sparked a major debate between the candidates who otherwise agree on most things political.
"We don't send cartoon characters to disrupt the Linder campaign. I think it's inappropriate and childish," Barr said.
"Bob knows what he just said is a lie. The first I knew about this was when a friend called up laughing. I told him to stop. We don't need that," Linder responded.
More of the voters in this new district were in Linder's old territory and he said he will better represent the conservative, middle class people there.
The primary's winner will most likely be the representative in this heavily Republican district, and Linder's low-key style may help get votes from some Democrats in the district who hold grudges against the outspoken Barr.
The candidates in these tight races say they're hoping for heavy voter turnout. But Georgia's secretary of state predicts only around 20 percent of registered voters will bother showing up at the polls.
Fox News' Jonathan Serrie contributed to this report.
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