Posted on 02/13/2011 3:31:44 AM PST by Scanian
It depends on her health, of course, but Tucson shooting victim Rep. Giffords, who expressed an interest in running for the senate prior to the tragedy, may represent the Democrat's best chance to pick up a senate seat in 2012.
Politico:
"The race for Arizona's open Senate seat has quickly focused in on one question: What will Gabrielle Giffords do?
"The Democratic congresswoman, who survived an assassination attempt in Tucson last month, is still undergoing rehabilitation in Houston for a gunshot wound to the head. Physicians have warned that her recovery will proceed at its own pace.
[...]
"Giffords was mentioned as one possible contender for the 2012 race during a closed-door meeting of Senate Democrats on Thursday, two sources with knowledge of the meeting said.
"In Arizona, strategists continue to view Giffords as a compelling candidate for higher office. That's a distinction few Democrats in the state can claim after last November, when Republicans captured two U.S. House seats and won every statewide office on the ballot.
"'Congresswoman Giffords's name was clearly at the top of the list of potential candidates against Sen. Kyl, or if Sen. Kyl stepped down, over the past couple years. Given that, a lot of people of course thought immediately of her for this seat,' Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Andrei Cherny said."
A Gifford candidacy would be a double edged sword. On the one hand, her courage and a large sympathy vote would help her. But questions about her health - not asked by any of her challengers but raised by the press - would hurt.
Unless her recovery is even more remarkable than can be imagined now, I don't think she will run. While her progress toward recovery is heartening, the damage done by the bullet was extensive and she has years of physical and mental therapy ahead of her. Running for the senate would take away from her recovery which is why I think that in the end, she may pass on 2012 and perhaps try in 2016 against John McCain who may retire - or be retired - by then.
I don't think the news media has made this point. They have put forward the image that she will be perfectly normal in time. Unfortunately, that's not the case with gunshot wounds through-and-through the brain.
Tim Johnson ran for re-election while recovering from a brain aneurysm, and was returned in no small part due to the sympathy vote. Don’t be surprised if Giffords tries to milk the electorate along those same lines.
but, but, but...
They said on the radio the other day that she was having a remarkable recovery.
She was able to ask for toast.
I wonder what will happen in 6 weeks when she is still not able to return to her position. Will Gov. Brewer call for a special election?
Unless that bullet in the head rid her of her liberal proclivities, I say Hell no.
How vile and disgusting, but not surprising
I believe that puts her above average in the Democrat caucus.
Look, if she does, no opponent ought to feel obligated to hold back on her—this “hands off” crap will give us another senator like Max Cleland.
Being a victim doesn’t entitle you to a free Senate seat.
Looks like the country is stuck with that turd for another 3 years...he is way out of step with his state, so I can’t see how he wins other than the sympathy factor.
Anybody good likely to run against him in ‘14?
“Waving the bloody shirt...”
Pretty much that’s how she’d win. I’m not prepared to let that liberal in Arizona (i.e., the shooter) determine who sits on the Supreme Court or whether Obamacare stays.
To be a senator, she will have to win the whole state, not just her gerrymandered district.
At this point even running for reelection to her current seat will be an extreme challenge.
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Given as to what this country is ‘turning into’, I doubt anyone would DARE challenge her in the next election.
Even if she were to resign, I feel enough people would reelect her on GP alone....
Anyone who would dare challenge her in the foreseeable future would be considered heartless at the very least and mean spirited just as a matter of course.
Her husband is probably the only one that could ‘pull it off’.
The sleazy Dems would send her to Washington with Grima Wormtongue as her Chief Advisor.
Leni
A fully-functioning Democrat would have simply sought out the nearest white male inpatient and taken his toast from him.
I agree. The 24 hour news cycle. Probably just as bad as liberal TV networks. The stuff they put on the air just to fill time is ridiculous.
She’s got constituents right now. Those folks don’t have a vote in the House at the moment. Maybe Rep. Giffords’ staffers and her party ought to think about those folks first.
I would like to see that vid of her asking for toast. In fact, there have been no vids of her progress. Just here-say from the media. The msm will spin anything for the dumbo dems. God bless her. But the senate is a very big stretch.
Why shouldn’t she? Kyl’s been doing it with half a brain.
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