As Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) continues to recover from a near-fatal assassination attempt in January, her 2010 Republican challenger is making his first moves toward a possible rematch.
Jesse Kelly, who came within one percentage point of Giffords last November, filed a Statement of Organization with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday, setting up his campaign committee and designating the 8th District as his focus again. Arizona will also gain another congressional seat after redistricting.
Jesse Kelly, who came within one percentage point of Giffords last November, filed a Statement of Organization with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday, setting up his campaign committee and designating the 8th District as his focus again. Arizona will also gain another congressional seat after redistricting.
Earlier this year, Kelly appeared to be preparing for a rematch against Giffords, and had scheduled a special announcement a week after the January 8 shooting at Giffords' "Congress On Your Corner," but he canceled that event in the wake of the tragedy that injured Giffords and killed six people.
Following the shooting, there were rumors in Arizona that Kelly aides had been asking around the state about special election procedures, should Giffords resign her seat, but one Kelly aidetold Hotline On Call in January that Kelly was wishing Giffords and the other victims a speedy recovery and wouldn't speculate on his plans for the next election.
"It's just not the time to even discuss that," said Kelly spokesman John Ellinwood. "We're just not there at this time, and I have no idea when or if that would happen."
While Republicans had initially felt Giffords' seat was a prime one for them to flip in 2012, a competitive race there would be all but off the GOP's table if Giffords runs again, with state and national Republicans acknowledging privately that running such a contest would be seen as insensitive so soon.
According to Kelly's year-end filing with the FEC, he still has nearly $39,000 in his campaign account. Giffords still has $285,000 in her campaign account, and she was also named last week to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's first wave of its Frontline incumbent protection program.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/03/kelly-eying-giffords-challenge-11
Following the shooting, there were rumors in Arizona that Kelly aides had been asking around the state about special election procedures, should Giffords resign her seat, but one Kelly aidetold Hotline On Call in January that Kelly was wishing Giffords and the other victims a speedy recovery and wouldn't speculate on his plans for the next election.
"It's just not the time to even discuss that," said Kelly spokesman John Ellinwood. "We're just not there at this time, and I have no idea when or if that would happen."
While Republicans had initially felt Giffords' seat was a prime one for them to flip in 2012, a competitive race there would be all but off the GOP's table if Giffords runs again, with state and national Republicans acknowledging privately that running such a contest would be seen as insensitive so soon.
According to Kelly's year-end filing with the FEC, he still has nearly $39,000 in his campaign account. Giffords still has $285,000 in her campaign account, and she was also named last week to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's first wave of its Frontline incumbent protection program.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/03/kelly-eying-giffords-challenge-11