CARBONDALE - Green Party candidates are continuing their campaign swings through Carbondale with former Democrat and six-term Congress-woman Cynthia McKinney arriving Saturday to campaign for her party nomination for president of the United States.

The party is having its first statewide primary on Feb. 5, 2008.

McKinney is running against Jared Ball of the District of Columbia, Howie Hawkins of New York and Kent Mesplay of California.

During her swing through Carbondale, McKinney will speak at a 12:30 p.m. catfish dinner organized by local supporters; the event will be in Hopewell Baptist Church, 400 E. Main St.

It will be preceded by an appearance at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Student Center Auditorium at 11 a.m. A news conference will be held 30 minutes prior to her appearance.

She is expected also to make a brief visit sometime between noon and 12:30 p.m. at the weekly peace vigil in the Carbondale Town Square.

McKinney was the first African-American woman from Georgia elected to Congress, where she served six terms in the House.

Tickets for the catfish dinner are available at Rosetta Books/Tropicana and Town Square Market.

scott.fitzgerald@thesouthern.com

351-5076