Southern Politics

It's primary day, and while most eyes seem fixed on a certain Senate race in Connecticut, there are several interesting political stories developing in the South:

GEORGIA: The high-profile race here is the run-off primary involving Democratic incumbent Rep. Cynthia McKinney, who held a strong lead over challenger Hank Johnson until her scuffle with Capitol Hill police in March. The latest polls showed McKinney trailing, 53% to 40%; but with turnout only reported as being "hot" in DeKalb County, last-minute turnout could swing it either way. The biggest threat to McKinney may be a large cross-over turnout from Republicans, who helped unseat her in 2002. Another possible factor: the showing of a documentary, "American Blackout," which argues that McKinney was targeted by a Capitol Hill police corps long accused of racism.

Today will also mark finale of a bruising battle between Democrats Jim Martin, former head of the state Department of Human Resources and longtime House member, and Greg Hecht, a former state senator and one-term House member, for a Lt. Governor bid.

TEXAS: Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia "declined to issue a stay that would allow Texas Republicans to replace former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay on the general election ballot," the Houston Chronicle reports. Roll Call says DeLay "could not be reached for comment. It is not clear to political experts in either party whether DeLay can convince the voters in his former district that he has any interest in winning the seat, even if he were to retire right after Election Day to force a special election to replace him."

The latest wrinkle: Time magazine reports that DeLay may step aside and support a write-in replacement. "DeLay plans to make the announcement this week."

LOUISIANA: Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA), embroiled in allegations of corruption, finally has a primary challenger: state Sen. Derrick Shepherd (D). As Stephanie Grace writes in the New Orleans Times-Picayune: "As the clock ticked down toward this week's three-day qualifying period and reality set in, the prospect of giving Jefferson a free ride, letting him anoint a successor through a last-minute bait and switch, or giving a lesser light a free shot at a congressman who still might be indicted before Election Day proved simply too much for New Orleans' political class."

(H/T Political Wire)