Denise Majette (D-GA) announced toady that she will be a candidate to replace Zell Miller in the United States Senate. From today's Hotline -
"Rep. Denise Majette (D-04) on 3/29 announced she will run for SEN, making her the highest-profile Dem seeking the office. The party "has struggled to field a strong candidate," while Reps. Johnny Isakson (R-06) and Mac Collins (R-08) "have been campaigning for nearly a year." Majette "conceded it is late to dive into a statewide race. But she said she felt moved to run as a counter to GOP messages she finds extreme." Majette: "The Republicans keep trotting out their right-wing rhetoric on God, guns and gays in an attempt to divide the electorate and distract from the serious problems they're not addressing."
Majette "said she will need to raise" $5M-$10M to compete. She "brushed aside reporters' questions about her chances, saying she's never let 'naysayers' stop her." Also, she "said she didn't talk" to Sen. Zell Miller (D) or the GA Dem party "before deciding to run." Majette: "I don't need anybody's blessing." She also acknowledged that GA Dems "are foundering on this race." Majette: "If the Democratic party leadership here had their act together, they wouldn't be in this situation" (AP, 3/29)"
Many Democrats, especially liberal Democrats like myself, may have trouble with the prospects of a Majette candidacy. After all, this is the same Democrat that won her seat in Congress by defeating a true liberal - Rep Cynthia McKinney - and did so by capitalizing on GOP crossover votes in her district. (A note, this does NOT mean that Majette has a special ability to win over moderate GOPers, rather, hard core conservatives thought she was more palatable than the true progressive McKinney)
On the other hand Majette is exactly what Democrats needed in GA, a credible candidate. And faced with a divided GOP field, this moderate Dem might actually have a chance. Moreover, wouldn't it be great to elect an African-American woman to the United States Senate! Personally, I plan to pocket my disgust with Majette's past (which is easier to do as Majette's departure from the House probably ensures McKinney's return) and offer my full support.