McKinney 2008
CampaignU.S. presidential election, 2008
CandidateCynthia McKinney
U.S. House of Representative from Georgia
(1993–2003)
(2005–2007)
Rosa Clemente
Activist
AffiliationGreen Party
StatusLost election November 4, 2008
Key peopleRosa Clemente
(Running mate)
SloganPower to the people.
Website
Cynthia McKinney 2008
Presidential nominee Cynthia McKinney
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The 2008 presidential campaign of Cynthia McKinney, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 11th district (1993–97) and 4th district (1997–2003, 2005–07), began on December 16, 2007, as a candidate for the Green Party presidential nomination via YouTube. She and her running mate Rosa Clemente accepted the Green Party's presidential nomination July 12, 2008 at the 2008 Green National Convention. Her campaign focused on issues such as racial profiling, September 11, 2001 attacks, and the Green Party's 10 key values. She also supported statehood for the District of Columbia, slavery reparations, electoral reforms including instant runoff voting, and calls for abolishing the death penalty and the War on Drugs.[1]

On November 4, 2008, McKinney finished sixth in the election with 161,603 votes, 41,744 more votes than the Cobb/LaMarche ticket four years prior.[2]

Early stages

On December 11, 2007, McKinney announced her candidacy for the Green Party nomination for President of the United States[3] in the 2008 presidential election.[4]

McKinney had little to do with the party apart from having had Green Party loyalists working on her congressional campaigns. This changed drastically following her defeat in the 2006 election. McKinney attended the California Green Party strategy retreat in Sonoma, California, where she was the keynote speaker.[5] On May 25, 2007, she was asked about a presidential run on WBAI and confirmed that she had thought about a Green run: "2008 has not been ruled out, some kind of effort. Certainly now it is questionable as to whether that effort would come under the banner of the Democratic Party."[6]

Cynthia McKinney before speaking at the Green Party Presidential Debate in San Francisco, January 2008

On June 9, speaking at a Harlem fundraiser for her Congressional campaign debt, McKinney addressed speculation that she might run for president in 2008. At the end of the program, Robert Knight of Pacifica Radio, who emceed the evening's events, took the pulpit to ask: "I can't hardly wait for 2008. Ms. McKinney, in 2008, what color is your parachute?" McKinney responds from the audience, "it's not red and it's not blue."[7] McKinney also appeared at the July 15 Green Party National Meeting in Reading, Pennsylvania, where she suggested that the Green Party could become a progressive political force. "[T]he disgust of the American people with what they see before them — all they need is the blueprint and a road map. Why not have the Green Party provide the blueprint and the road map?"

On July 17, McKinney also received the endorsement of the Workers World Party, the first time that party chose not to nominate a candidate of its own.[8]

At an August 27 peace rally in Kennebunkport, Maine, McKinney confirmed the depth of her disenchantment with the Democratic Party, urging San Francisco voters to replace Nancy Pelosi with antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan. On September 10, in a letter to the Steering Committee of the Green Party of the United States, McKinney stated she would not seek the Green Party nomination for president.[9] However, in early October it appeared that McKinney was making moves toward declaring herself an official Green Party candidate.[10]

By October 9, 2007, Green leaders were receiving emails indicating McKinney had formally joined the Green Party. The emails also indicate McKinney could announce a Green Party presidential bid by the third week of October. Following a brief exploratory visit to California in mid-October, McKinney filed with the FEC. She formally announced her candidacy with a video on her website and on YouTube on December 16, 2007. Later that month she agreed to join with others on the Green Party California Primary Ballot for an event in San Francisco entitled Campaign 2008: A Presidential Debate That Matters.[11] McKinney has also filed with the State Board of Elections of Illinois for the Green party in the presidential race.[12]

On July 9, 2008, she named her running mate as Rosa Clemente[13] and clinched the party's nomination three days later at the 2008 Green Party National Convention.[14]

Green Party Nominee

Democratic National Convention

During the Democratic National Convention from August 25–28, Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente appeared at several events and demonstrations in Denver.[15] On August 24, McKinney appeared at the End the Occupations March and Rally organized by Recreate 68,[16] and spoke to the crowd from the West Steps of the Colorado State Capitol Building.[17] McKinney's appearance at the event caused some controversy[18] after the Green Party of Colorado's decision not to support Recreate 68. On the 27th, Rosa Clemente spoke at an "Open The Debates" rally organized by the Nader/Gonzalez campaign.

During the first week in September, McKinney traveled to Wisconsin for several events.[19] On the 5th, McKinney spoke in Racine, Wisconsin to the local We Are Change group.[20] On September 6, McKinney spoke in Baraboo, Wisconsin at Fighting Bob Fest, the largest annual political festival in the United States,[21][22] named in honor of former Senator Bob La Follette.

2008 Hurricane Katrina conspiracy theory

Cynthia McKinney was reported by Fox News on October 2, 2008, to have had a conspiracy theory stating that during the aftermath Hurricane Katrina, The Pentagon dumped 5,000 executed felons that were killed by a single bullet to the head. McKinney stated that she was informed by the mother of a National Guard, with verifications from "insiders."[23]

Third party debate

McKinney accepted an invitation to attend the third-party presidential debate.

Result

On Election Day, the McKinney/Clemente ticket received 161,797 votes (0.12% of the popular vote), garnering 41,938 more votes than the Cobb/LaMarche ticket four years prior, though once again the Green Party candidate finished in 6th place, finishing 37,953 votes behind Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party, a bigger margin than in 2004. Nationally, McKinney received her highest percentage of the vote in Humboldt County, California, where she received 1.01% of the vote. Humboldt had also been Cobb's highest-percentage county in 2004, and it would be Green nominee Jill Stein's highest-percentage county in 2012.[24]

Ballot status

The Green Party had announced plans to get on all 50 state ballots and D.C. for 2008. They did not meet their goal. McKinney was on 32 ballots with 368 electoral votes (68.4% of the total possible) as well as another 17 states as a write-in candidate.
The following is a table comparison of ballot status in 2008 to 2004.

  Electoral Votes 2008 2004
States 51 32 (49) 25 (43)
Electoral Votes 538 368 (528) 267 (479)
Percent of EVs 100% 68.4% (98.1%) 49.6% (89.0%)
Alabama 9 (write-in) (write-in)
Alaska 3 (write-in) On ballot
Arizona 10 On ballot (write-in)
Arkansas 6 On ballot On ballot
California 55 On ballot On ballot
Colorado 9 On ballot On ballot
Connecticut 7 (write-in) On ballot
Delaware 3 On ballot On ballot
Florida 27 On ballot On ballot
Georgia 15 (write-in) (write-in)
Hawaii 4 On ballot On ballot
Idaho 4 (write-in) (write-in)
Illinois 21 On ballot (write-in)
Indiana 11 (write-in)
Iowa 7 On ballot On ballot
Kansas 6 (write-in) (write-in)
Kentucky 8 (write-in)
Louisiana 9 On ballot On ballot
Maine 4 On ballot On ballot
Maryland 10 On ballot On ballot
Massachusetts 12 On ballot
Michigan 17 On ballot On ballot
Minnesota 10 On ballot On ballot
Mississippi 6 On ballot On ballot
Missouri 11 (write-in)
Montana 3 (write-in) On ballot
Nebraska 5 On ballot On ballot
Nevada 5 On ballot On ballot
New Hampshire 4 (write-in) (write-in)
New Jersey 15 On ballot On ballot
New Mexico 5 On ballot On ballot
New York 31 On ballot (write-in)
North Carolina 15 (write-in) (write-in)
North Dakota 3 (write-in)
Ohio 20 On ballot (write-in)
Oklahoma 7
Oregon 7 On ballot On ballot
Pennsylvania 21 (write-in) On ballot
Rhode Island 4 On ballot On ballot
South Carolina 8 On ballot On ballot
South Dakota 3
Tennessee 11 On ballot (write-in)
Texas 34 (write-in) (write-in)
Utah 5 On ballot (write-in)
Vermont 3 (write-in) (write-in)
Virginia 13 On ballot (write-in)
Washington 11 On ballot On ballot
West Virginia 5 On ballot (write-in)
Wisconsin 10 On ballot On ballot
Wyoming 3 (write-in) (write-in)
District of Columbia 3 On ballot (write-in)

Endorsements

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Differences Couldn't Be More Clear". Archived from the original on October 30, 2008. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
  2. ↑ "2008 presidential vote" (PDF). Federal Election Commission. December 7, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
  3. ↑ YouTube – Cynthia McKinney Announces Run for President
  4. ↑ "McKinney speaks truth to power in Wisconsin". Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  5. ↑ Vibes Watch
  6. ↑ http://www.reason.com/blog/show/.html
  7. ↑ "her website". Archived from the original on September 4, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Why Workers World is endorsing Cynthia McKinney for president" July 17, 2008
  9. ↑ McKinney, Cynthia (September 10, 2007). "Cynthia Withdraws Name From Consideration for Green Party Presidential Nomination". All Things Cynthia McKinney. Archived from the original on September 4, 2008.
  10. ↑ Thomas, Luke (October 5, 2007). "Cynthia McKinney to announce bid for the White House". Fog City Journal.
  11. ↑ "Green Campaign 2008: A Presidential Debate That Matters". Green Party of Alameda County.
  12. ↑ "Illinois State Board of Elections". Archived from the original on September 3, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  13. ↑ Richard Winger, "Cynthia McKinney Names V-P Running Mate" Ballot Access News
  14. ↑ "McKinney wins Green Party nomination", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2008-07-12
  15. ↑ "Cynthia and Rosa in Denver for Resistance Actions around DNC". All Things Cynthia McKinney. August 23, 2008. Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Family Law | Recreate68". Archived from the original on October 13, 2008. Retrieved October 4, 2008.
  17. ↑ YouTube – Cynthia McKinney at Recreate 68 in Denver at DNC
  18. ↑ Green Party Watch » Blog Archive » Denver DNC Demonstration Drama (will the Colorado Greens take Cynthia off the ballot?) – America’s #1 Source for Green Party News & View...
  19. ↑ "Events". All Things Cynthia McKinney. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  20. ↑ YouTube – We Are Change Racine meets Cynthia McKinney
  21. ↑ McKinney at the Fighting Bob Fest « OntheWilderSide
  22. ↑ YouTube – Cynthia McKinney – 2008 Fighting Bob Fest
  23. ↑ "Elections". Fox News.
  24. ↑ Winger, Richard (December 15, 2012). "Humboldt County, California, was Jill Stein's Best County in the Nation". Ballot Access News. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Mumia Abu Jamal: McKinney offers "not just the illusion, but the reality of 'change'"". Archived from the original on November 27, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  26. ↑ "Jared Ball Steps Out And Endorses Cynthia McKinney". Archived from the original on March 12, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  27. ↑ "Barr endorses Cynthia McKinney". June 8, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  28. ↑ "McKinney-Clemente Campaign Welcomes Noam Chomsky's Support". Archived from the original on November 26, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  29. ↑ "Cynthia McKinney Deserves Your Support, Obama Does Not". Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  30. ↑ "Public Enemy's Professor Griff: Definitely Want to Endorse McKinney, what she's doing with Rosa Clemente". Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  31. ↑ "M1 (Dead Prez) with Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente, "I know I would be represented"". Archived from the original on November 27, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  32. ↑ "Ron Paul to announce presidential endorsement plans". CNN. September 9, 2008. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  33. ↑ "Cindy Sheehan formally endorses Cynthia McCkinney and Green Party". Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  34. ↑ "Mission Accomplished". Archived from the original on September 3, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  35. ↑ "Rich Whitney: best candidate for President, bar none; a real fighter for the public good; person of integrity and principle". Archived from the original on July 30, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  36. ↑ "The Militant takes on Cynthia McKinney". August 10, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  37. ↑ "Workers International League: "your candidacy is the best choice for working people"". runcynthiarun.org. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Cynthia McKinney for president". Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  39. ↑ "Actor Daniel Sunjata endorses Cynthia McKinney". October 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2008.

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