jesse kelly: ShortFormBlog

01:34 • 11 months ago

Congrats to former Gabrielle Giffords aide Ron Barber, who won his former boss' old Congressional seat in an election to finish out her term. But it wasn't an easy battle.

Both the GOP and the Democrats used the race to hone and test their political arguments for the November elections, when everything from the White House on down will be on the ballot.

Republicans, sensing a chance to capture the former congresswoman’s seat, sought to make the contest a referendum on President Barack Obama and his handling of the economy. They argued that Democrat Ron Barber, a former Giffords aide asked by the lawmaker to pursue the seat, would fall in line behind the White House.

Democrats, in turn, played to the senior vote by contending that Republican Jesse Kelly would not protect Medicare and Social Security.

Both candidates promised to run again in the fall.

10:37 • 11 months ago

Tags: gabrielle giffords mark kelly ron barber jesse kelly arizona special election elections giffords special election 6 • Permalink

Some of those people used to be her supporters. But now Ron has his own team that’s energized to make sure he gets across the finish line on Tuesday, and Gabby is very excited about that.

Gabrielle Giffords’ husband, Mark Kelly • Discussing her meeting with volunteers for her former district office director, Ron Barber, on Sunday. Barber faces a tough election battle to fill Giffords’ former seat tonight. Giffords’ opponent in 2010, former Marine Jesse Kelly, lost by a mere 4,000 votes, and he’s facing Barber. By pure numbers, the Republican may have an easier time reaching victory — there are 26,000 more Republicans registered in the district (in and around Tucson, Arizona), than Democrats. But Barber has the support of Giffords, and that might make all the difference.