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The Campaign Spot

Election-driven news and views . . . by Jim Geraghty.


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Creepy: Giffords Supporters Already Fantasizing About Senate Ads

Anyone else find this more than a little creepy?

Representative Gabrielle Giffords is still in the hospital, but some of her most ardent backers are so enamored of the idea of her running for the Senate that they describe the inevitable campaign commercials: the deep-voiced narrator recounting what happened to her, the images of her wounded, then recovering and speaking into the camera alongside her astronaut husband to call on Arizonans to unite.

These supporters say they do not want to get too far ahead of themselves, and make clear that Ms. Giffords, who was shot in the head, is still relearning basic tasks and might emerge from the hospital with neither the same political abilities nor aspirations that she had before. And publicly, her closest aides say the only thing they care about is her health.

. . . Several of Ms. Giffords’s longtime aides are whispering behind the scenes that she just might recover in time to run for the seat that Senator Jon Kyl, a Republican, is vacating next year.

This exploitative speculation has something of a benefit for the GOP:

While it might be wishful thinking, Ms. Giffords’s noncampaign is already having a major effect on Arizona politics; other prospective Democratic candidates say they feel compelled not to jump in unless she bows out, allowing Republicans to get a head start organizing their campaigns.

Tags: Arizona, Gabrielle Giffords

New on The Campaign Spot. . .


COMMENTS   4

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   03/31/11 15:20

by their standards there must be scores of perfect candidates from inner city gangs who have survived a drive by shooting ...

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   03/31/11 16:03

Giffords wins statewide in AZ only if Jeff Flake refuses to highlight her irresponsible spendthrift history as a Pelosi rubber stamp. Giffords has been a BDINO (blue dog in name only).

Freaking AZ Dems, all touchy feely sentimental goobly-gook without a lick of sense.

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   03/31/11 22:17

It may be impolitic, but why doesn't she resign and concentrate on getting better to lead as normal a life as she can? Our district is currently unrepresented, and may be for a good long time. Is she so consumed with politics that she cannot put her life first?

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Peter Halferding
   08/02/11 12:10

Well, she at least represented your district at the most crucial vote this year.

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