DECATUR -- Controversial candidate Cynthia McKinney overwhelmingly defeated a crowded field of candidates Tuesday night, in what appears to be a dramatic resurrection of a political career that many thought was dead after she lost two years ago in a stunning upset.

With 98 percent of the precincts reporting, McKinney garnered 51 percent of the votes versus her next closest competitor, Liane Levitan, who captured 21 percent. Cathy Woolard, the former president of the Atlanta City Council, was close with 19 percent of the vote.

"I told you I'd be back," McKinney said during an address that sounded a lot like a victory speech even though the ballots were still coming in.

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To avoid a run-off, a candidate needed 50 percent or more of the vote. During a brief appearance at her campaign headquarters, McKinney danced on stage and promised to return to the podium once she had been declared the winner. When she reappeared before the crowd and delivered her victory speech, McKinney said voters appreciated her commitment to truth.

"The American people appreciate being told the truth and nowhere is that more evident than in the 4th Congressional District with our victory tonight," McKinney said to cheers.

McKinney lost her House seat two years ago to Denise Majette in a voter backlash spawned by her incendiary remarks about President Bush and the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. She was one of six Democrats up for the party's nomination.

After running behind most of the evening, McKinney roared back late in the evening and never surrendered the lead once she had it.

And yet, Levitan said she expected to get a boost from absentee ballots.

"As we saw in Florida, you have to wait until every vote is counted," she said, adding that she was surprised by McKinney's strength.

Democrats dominate the district so it was likely that McKinney will win the race against the Republican nominee in November.

The state's first black congresswoman, McKinney served 10 years in the House before losing in 2002 to Majette, a little-known state court judge at the time, in the Democratic primary.

This time around, McKinney led a crowded field of six candidates. There were about 12,000 absentee votes yet to be counted Tuesday night.

Majette is leaving the seat to seek the job of retiring Democratic Sen. Zell Miller. Receiving the most votes in the Democratic Senate primary, she will face businessman Cliff Oxford in a runoff Aug. 10.

McKinney's loss two years ago came after she accused President Bush of having advance warning about the Sept. 11 attacks but ignoring them because he had friends who would profit from a war on terror. McKinney also alienated fellow Democrats, once saying that former Vice President Al Gore had a low "Negro tolerance level."

McKinney's comeback campaign appeared wobbly. She raised just $214,000, much less than opponents Cathy Woolard, a former Atlanta City Council president, and state Sen. Liane Levetan.

With no television ads, McKinney instead concentrated on working the heavily black neighborhoods that sent her to Congress for five terms. Light turnout among her base was blamed for her upset in 2002.

The tactic worked. Many voters said she was unfairly drubbed for her comments about Bush.

"She did a great service and she's an extremely courageous woman by calling George Bush on the carpet," said 54-year-old Patricia Kilpatrick of Lithonia, a yoga teacher who voted for McKinney. "I know a lot of people think she's out on the edge but I think we need that. We need someone who looks out over the precipice to see what's going on to forge that path for us."

Emory University political scientist Merle Black said there was a "huge sentiment that she was deprived of her seat."

He credited stronger black turnout and a more positive campaign approach for McKinney's success.

"She really changed her style. It wasn't confrontational Cynthia McKinney. It was representative of all the people Cynthia McKinney," he said.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, McKinney led Woolard and Levetan by more than 25,000 votes, but she was hovering near the 50 percent needed to avoid the runoff. Levetan only led Woolard by 307 votes for second place and a spot in a possible runoff.

In the general election, the winner faces Republican Catherine Davis, who is also black.

Two other open seats for Congress were headed to runoffs.

In a Republican-leading district north of Atlanta, state Sen. Tom Price will face state Sen. Robert Lamutt. In another GOP district, running from the southern suburbs of Atlanta to Columbus, voters will pick between State Rep. Lynn Westmoreland and Dylan Glenn, a former aide to Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue.

The other active race in Georgia was a Democratic contest in the 12th District, which runs from Athens to Augusta to Savannah. Former Clarke County commissioner John Barrow defeated former state Sen. Doug Haines to win without a runoff.

The 12th District is being closely watched by national Democrats because they see it as their best chance in Georgia to knock off a GOP incumbent. The district, created by redistricting in 2002, is held by Republican Rep. Max Burns, although the district was thought to lean Democratic.

Democratic Rep. David Scott, who holds a suburban Atlanta district, handily defeated challenger William Ogletree with no Republican challenger in the fall. With 102 of 165 precincts reporting, Scott led Ogletree 82 percent to 18 percent.

The rest of Georgia's congressional delegates did not face challenges in the primaries. Those are: Republican Reps. Nathan Deal, Phil Gingrey, John Linder, Charlie Norwood and Jack Kingston; and Democrats John Lewis, Sanford Bishop and Jim Marshall.

Linder, Lewis, Deal and Kingston don't have opposition in either the primary or the general election.

wsbtv.com Staff Writer Alfred Charles contributed to this report.