A new Insider Advantage poll shows McKinney making up some ground but still trailing challenger Hank Johnson by 15 points, 49% to 34% with 17% still undecided. Note: it's always best to cast a very skeptical eye on polls with such small sample sizes (300LV, MoE+/-6%), and even more so when we're talking about polling done for primaries. Insider Advantage had the Lt. Governor's race between Ralph Reed and Casey Cagle a dead heat in their final poll, and we all know how that one turned out. So beware.

Another footnote on the race: Hank Johnson picked up the endorsement of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution today. Editorial board member Mike King signed the endorsement, arguing Johnson's humble style is what's needed:

His [Johnson's] voting record in Congress would not likely differ much from McKinney's, but he would stand a much better chance of securing federal dollars and other resources for the district than McKinney, who has alienated virtually all her colleagues in the House, even those who once supported her.

Johnson can come off as a tentative, soft-spoken politician who rarely seems confrontational -- the polar opposite of the incumbent. His critics worry that he may not be strong enough to withstand the relentless pressure of lobbyists and special-interest groups. He would do well, if elected, to seek the counsel of veteran House members such as U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) in how to make the adjustment from a county commissioner to a federal legislator.

McKinney had the same chance to seek such wisdom. She either refused or ignored it. Johnson will not be so arrogant.

UPDATE: The AJC fact checked McKinney's claim from Monday night's debate that she was rated the highest among all Democratic members of the Georgia House delegation, including Rep. John Lewis, according to a ranking compiled by a group called Congress.org. The AJC reports:

A closer look at the Web site's marks, however, shows that McKinney's statement is accurate, but doesn't tell the whole story. Congress.com confirmed that McKinney was the only member of the Georgia delegation to get legislation passed, which afforded her the highest ranking on legislation, but overall she ranked 12th out of the 13 Georgia House members when other criteria were included. In the overall "power rankings," she rated 408 out of 438 House members.