Arizona Republic Becomes Third Newspaper to Endorse Gabrielle Giffords

Republic Joins Tucson Citizen and Tucson Weekly in Backing Giffords

TUCSON - The Arizona Republic, the largest newspaper in Arizona, with a circulation that ranks among the top 20 newspapers nationwide, today became the third newspaper to endorse Gabrielle Giffords’ candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Congress in Arizona’s District 8, calling her the “most energetic, polished and experienced candidate.” The Republic joined the Tucson Citizen and Tucson Weekly in backing Giffords’ campaign for a new direction in Washington.

The text of the editorial is below:

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Picking poise, charisma

BY THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC EDITORIAL BOARD

Southern Arizona’s District 8 congressional race to replace retiring Rep. Jim Kolbe is critical to Democrats, who hope to gain control of the House of Representatives, and to Republicans, who hope to keep the seat their party has held for 22 years.

For Democrats, the six-way race comes down to two candidates.

While both are well-qualified, experience and charisma give the edge to former state lawmaker Gabrielle Giffords over long-time southern Arizona news anchor Patty Weiss.

Giffords is smart. She styles herself as a pro-business moderate and she earned respect in the Legislature.

The Tucson native ran her family’s tire business for four years, spent a year in Mexico as a Fulbright Scholar and did research in San Diego on border issues.

A protégé of the late state Rep. Andy Nichols, who was not shy about pushing progressive causes, Giffords was also the only Democrat lawmaker honored by the Arizona Small Business Association last year. Among the Republicans honored with her were such rock-rib conservatives as Rep. Russell Pearce and Rep. Laura Knaperek.

When asked if she would support congressional hearings on the Bush administration’s handling of the war in Iraq if she becomes part of a Democratic-controlled House, Giffords diplomatically pointed out that “our country needs to be less divisive.”

When it comes to the hottest issue in District 8 - illegal immigration - Giffords supports comprehensive immigration reform, such as the bipartisan plan championed by Kolbe and Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. She wants to build on the U.S. trade relationship with Mexico to work toward the ultimate solution to the problem: jobs in Mexico.

District 8 is truly competitive. Republicans hold a slight advantage over Democrats, but a large number of the district’s voters registered without choosing either major party. They are up for grabs, and they have established their fondness for moderates by sending the moderate Kolbe to Congress for 11 terms.

Patty Weiss has high name recognition after three decades as a news anchor with Tucson’s NBC affiliate. Her views on the issues are thoughtful but not substantially different than those of Giffords. Her work as a journalist has made her an informed observer of Arizona government and politics, but there is significant difference between reporting the issues and crafting public policy to address them.

The other candidates in the race are:

• Jeff Latas, a pilot with a hero’s record in the Air Force. His stridency about the Bush administration’s handling of Iraq may appeal to angry Democrats in the primary, but he will lack the necessary appeal to moderates in November.

• Alex Rodriguez was a defense policy adviser in the Pentagon and served in Bosnia-Herzgovina. He is an employee at Raytheon and member of the Tucson Unified School District.

• Francine Shacter is a retired government employee who offers sensible ideas, but lacks the name recognition or experience to succeed in a congressional race.

• Bill Johnson is a member of the Minuteman group and offers ideas about immigration and social issues that make him sound like a Republican. We urge him to rethink his party affiliation.

Weiss, Latas, Rodriguez and Shacter have depth and a willingness to serve that would enrich the state Legislature or local elected offices. We urge them to remain active in politics.

The Arizona Republic recommends Gabrielle Giffords to Democrats in Congressional District 8 as the most energetic, polished and experienced candidate.