
(CNN) - The liberal environmentalist Green Party nominated former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney as its presidential candidate Saturday.
McKinney, 53, held off three rivals to win the party's nomination during its convention in Chicago, Illinois. She picked journalist and activist Rosa Clemente as her running mate.
Green Party spokeswoman Scott McLarty acknowledged McKinney was a "long shot" for the White House, but said, "Every vote that she gets helps the Green Party."
"The United States needs an alternative party," McLarty said. "The narrow two-party system we have right now has not served us very well."
McKinney represented a suburban district of Atlanta, Georgia, as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives for six terms - five consecutively.
First elected in 1992, she lost a primary challenge in 2002 after suggesting in a radio interview that members of the Bush administration stood to profit from the war that followed the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
In 2004 she ran again and won with a low-key campaign in which she largely avoided controversy. But voters ousted her again in 2006 after she was accused of a physical altercation with a U.S. Capitol Police officer who questioned her after failing to recognize her at a security checkpoint.


Wonder if the liberals are going to start calling her names, since that is what they do. The childishness of liberals is funny.
ahhh she just might be my alternative to holding my nose and voting for Obama. The fact that she wanted to impeach bush is a definte plus.
I couldn't agree more, we definitely need more than 2 parties.
Why would a movement with such good intentions want to turn itself into a joke?
Well seeing that McKinney has no idea how to handle herself when she's being attacked politically, and seeing that the Green Party is conceding even the appearance of leading a real movement in this election cycle, the Green Party giving McKinney the nomination might be the best thing for both of them...
Knoxville NFIL
What is this world coing to, this woman is a nut case.
One more buffoon, cartoon, spoiler like Nader. These people are the culprits in today's politics.
OBAMA (2008 -16)
I'M ALL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND ALL, BUT,THIS IS A ONE-ISSUE PARTY.however,a debate between them and mccain would be real fun!a debate between them and obama would be boring,because they have the same stand on the issues of the environment.
This nomination completely undermines any credibility the party might have had.
All part of the Left's plan to get Obama elected. McKinney is such a nutcase that, next to her, even Senator Liberal (Obama) will appear moderate and acceptable to the American people.
The Green party is a joke.
Obama 08 &12
SHE's BACK!
McKinney dont be a spoiler for presidential democratic nominee Obama. This election is between American War Hero and Community Organizer. Between maverick and chameleon. Between All American Baby and Kenyan Anchor Baby. Between White Male and Inter-racial Male. Between 20 years Senator and 143 days Senator. Between Professional and Rookie. Between Democrat and Republic. Between Majority and Minority.
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I'd rather have her any old day than, OBAMA!!!
The Green Party must really be confused and desperate. After watching Cynthia McKinney's behavior, hitting the Capitol Hill police officer, in 2006, I couldn't imagine her running for dog catcher. Why would anybody in their right mind elect McKinney to anything ... let alone the Presidency of the United States?
I guess she'll cancel out Bob Barr – darn!
OK... The Green Party is now officially a joke.
You have a much better chance than Borack Obama, of being the next C.I.C. Lady.. Even if the Democrat's do win the Election Obama will be overthrown by the V.P. on account of his Alien Backgroun...
I'm voting for her if not Hillary!!
Oh please, she is a rude loud mouth loser. What would be the problem with a serious candidate and not a loose canon who slaps DC cops.
I hope she wants Universal Health Care, than I'm really voting for her. Go Cynthia!!!! LOL
Cynthia McKinney the new Jesse Jackson.
Every vote she gets helps John McCain and the anti-green republican party. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot, these delusional folks are as much of the environmental problem as the republicans they help get elected.
Go figure!
Who cares?