Posted on 01/27/2012 8:33:45 AM PST by LS
With Giffords' official resignation, as I understand Arizona law, they have to have a special election for the remainder of the term, then the regular election in the fall. Does anyone have any information on who is running in this special election? could be a harbinger.
Based on recent precident, I think that it is now considered a woman’s seat and a democrat seat, so we can only elect a woman democrat to fill the seat. /s
So anyone that runs is going to have to run two campaigns in one year?? Someone is going to need a Large War Chest or some deep pockets of their own! Would be great if we could get a Republican President with Super Majority in Congress......(I expect the Dems to fight tooth and nail for Obamacare...and I don’t trust the RINO’s)
You mean they’re not going to put her astronaut husband in? Shocker.
I know what you mean but he lives in TX.
Gabby is living with him near the space center in TX and going to the rehab center in Houston.
The district is historically liberal. A strong conservative would have a tough time winning here.
Additionally, the districts in AZ, including this one, will be changing for the next general election. Makes it even more interesting in terms of candidates raising funds for two back to back elections in what will be two different districts.
Gabby Giffords almost lost her congressional seat in the mid-term election of 2010. She just squeaked by. The Pubbies can pick-up this seat in the upcoming special election!!! Regardless of the the “Obama” media spin, the economy is still in terrible shape, Republican Governor, Jan Brewer is doing a good job in AZ, plus making POTUS Obama look like the idiot buffoon he is, and....Ms. Giffords hanging onto her seat, even though she knew she was incapable of effectively supporting the very people in her district that voted for her!!!
I feel very sorry for her misfortune....but her greedy grip on her seat along with her opportunist husband was bogus at best, as witnessed by the horrible sales of of their (Gabby Giffords & Mark Kelly) authored book!!! Couple Ms. Giffords in abetting the gruesome “Obama’s” SOTU charade....and...you have the makings of a newly aquired Pubbie seat, come the election!!!
Just kind in mind voters in the “Gifford” district, we are fighting for the very life of our nation in defeating Obama and all Democrats!!! The life and future of this magnificent “Free” nation is worth ten times the life or personal tragedy of any one person!!!
http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012712_antenori_congress/antenori-running-replace-giffords/
Tea Party rally video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZxSgel73yE
At one time, it was a given that a tragedy close to the election would carry a marginal candidate over the finish line with the sympathy vote.
Widow Carnahan inherited her husband Russ's senate seat in Missouri with just such a vote in 2000. Charles Percy in Illinois rode the same wave of sympathy over his daughter's tragic murder to a narrow re-election a generation before that.
However, I think the proximity of the tragedy to the actual election is a big factor. In Paul Wellstone's case, the surrogate still lost because he wasn't family. As I recall, the Democrat party machinery tried to get one of the family to run but they weren't interested.
In Gifford's case, it may likewise be minimally effective because the tragedy will be old news by the time of the election.
FWIW, I don't think her district voters will see it that way since she eventually did the right thing and stepped down with little urging. They are still going to view her heroically unless the local DemocRAT machine overplays their hand as was done with the Paul Wellstone funeral.
It is by no means a sure pickup for the GOP.
What happened with this district in the redistricting process? Easier or more difficult for a Republican?
Good luck to Mr. Kelly.
My concern is that Giffords herself will campaign for whatever Dem rises to run for the seat. That’ll be hard (if entirely unfairly so) to overcome. Here’s hoping.
Historically, her District had an ever so slight Repub tilt - at least in terms of the holder being Repub - in an otherwise "blue" part of the State (Tucson - she herself was originally a Repub as a State Congresscritter before winning her seat as a brand new Demo in '06. Barely held on against Kelly in '10 election).
Kelly was the "Tea Party" candidate and seems very impressive. Not my District, but I hope he pulls it out this time.
My sister lives in Green Valley, AZ and Gabby was he Representative. My sister likes Gabby, although she did not vote for her, nor does my sister agree with many of Gabby’s positions. Apparently Gabby was well-liked in her district. That may be because she was not quite so radically leftist as others in her caucus.
Green Vally is entirely a retirement comminuity with about 25000 residents. These are retireees who have enough income to settle down there either permanently or as a winter get-away. I suspect that group are overwhelmingly conservative in values. That being said, there is a large Hispanic population there too. I think this district could be considered to be a swing district.
Probably a bit more (D) in the new district. The more conservative NW Tucson area is no longer in the new ex-Gabby district.
The actual details for Tucson are here -
That guy ...very impressive. I remember him during the election. Military guy IIRC. Was on Levin’s show
Hope he can pull off a win.
Finally, Giffords resigned. I wish her well, but it is obvious to anyone that has seen her in public that she has a very long way to go. Her ability to move properly and her mental capacity have been diminished substantially. The Dems have cynically been using her as a prop repeatedly to gain electoral advantage. Using her in the special election would not be surprising, but rather, predictable.
Eventually, I see her husband being recruited to replace her once they move from Houston.
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