Former DeKalb County educator, Cynthia Van Auken, got 61.3 percent of the vote in the Republican runoff Sept. 10. 

       Van Auken will face Democrat, Denise Majette, in the general election.  Majette handily won the Aug. 20 Democratic primary, defeating incumbent U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney with 58.3 percent of the vote.

       Van Auken, who has never held public office, heads into the general election buoyed with confidence after her runoff results.

       "I feel very positive," she said. "My message is spreading by word of mouth.   I receive numerous calls from voters, who say they have decided to get on the campaign bandwagon."

        She said her main issues are: support for the war on terrorism; national security; missile defense -- and Social Security, tax and education reform.

        "I believe that I have broad-based support from voters in the district," she said.  "Several people, who crossed over in the primary, have told me that they will come back to vote for me in the general election.

         "I am also receiving support from the African-American community," she continued.  "Many of them have told me they feel their conservative values have not been represented. They are willing to give me the opportunity to represent them."   

         Voting by DeKalb County Republicans, who "crossed over" to vote in the Democratic primary, propelled Majette, a former DeKalb County State Court Judge, to victory.

       Crossover voting had a definite impact on the Democratic primary, said Van Auken.

        "There were a lot of unhappy people; it showed in the vote," she said.  "Whether that vote was anti-McKinney or pro-Majette, we will see Nov. 5."

        Despite a possible backlash by African-American voters, particularly in south DeKalb County, regarding McKinney's defeat, Van Auken is unsure whether it will affect the results on Election Day.

       "I have heard about it," she said.  "I can not begin to say how that would play in the general election."

        Though some political observers expect Majette to win the general election, Van Auken disagrees Majette is a shoo-in.

    "The biggest difference between us is her alignment with the Democrat Party," she said.  "She is a believer in big government.

        "I am more interested in the individual," continued Van Auken.  "I want individuals to have more personal freedom so they can make more choices for themselves."

        Majette, whom many consider the frontrunner, is busy building on the momentum of her upset victory over McKinney.

        "The campaign is going well," she said.  "We have recently launched an aggressive get-out-the-vote campaign.

         "We will continue to be accessible and reach people where they are," she said.

         Her campaign recently held a unity walk, and plans are underway for a caravan and a "battle of the bands."

         Majette also is meeting and greeting mass-transit and library patrons.

          "Voters have been responsive to my message," she said.  "I have been in the grocery store or walking down the street and have had people give their encouragement and support to me."

          She said she believes she will receive broad-based voter support on Election Day. "I received that support during the primary... We will reach out to even more people, even those who were not with us in the beginning.

          "I support the rights of the individual to be accepted for who he or she is, especially in the gay and African-American communities," she said.  "They have felt at times that they have not been recognized for who they are and what they can bring to the community."

         She said she opposes the death penalty and racial profiling.  Majette also supports a woman's right to choose, and affirmative action.

         Majette said she, too, has heard of a possible backlash by African-American voters over McKinney's defeat, but she remains confident people will let their voices be heard.

        "I hope people will express their opinions at the polls," she said.  "Too many people have died to take voting lightly."

        Though she is optimistic about her chances, Majette said she is not worried about the outcome -- win or lose.

         "I believe this is the path that I am supposed to travel," she said.  "Everything that has happened in my campaign has reaffirmed that.

    "Whatever the outcome, I will have no regrets," she said.  "I would continue to look for opportunities to serve."