We have another official candidate for president. The Green Party has chosen former Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney as its 2008 presidential candidate [1]. McKinney, 53, will have a hip-hop artist and activist Rosa Clemente as her running mate. McKinney served as a Democrat in the U.S. House from 1993-2003 and 2005-2007.

McKinney also becomes the second Georgian to be on the top ticket of a ballot. Former Republican Rep. Bob Barr will run for the Libertarian Party.

While third parties aren't given much of a chance to win, McKinney and Barr could play a significant role in the election. Barack Obama has a good shot at winning Georgia, but the dynamic in the Peach State could change with Barr and McKinney on the ballot.

A presidential candidate doesn't have to get 50% of the vote to win a state. Majority rules: if Obama, John McCain, McKinney, and Barr do quite well, a candidate could win 26% of the vote and win all the electoral votes in the state. It's also possible that Barr or McKinney could take the state, throwing the electoral map into that much more confusion.

It also speaks to something that two minor parties are being led by former House reps from more established parties. Technorati Tags: Be-Elected [7] Cynthia McKinney [8] Green Party [9] president [10] Georgia [11]