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Kelly to challenge Giffords in November general
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
It didn't take long for the mud slinging to begin after last Tuesday's primary election, where Republican Jesse Kelly received voter approval to face incumbent Democrat Gabrielle Giffords in November's general election.
After Kelly's main challenger Jonathan Paton conceded the race just after 11 p.m. Aug. 24, press releases from Giffords' office seemed to indicate pleasure that Republican's choice to run for the state's eighth congressional seat in the House of Representatives would be Kelly.
Paton, who was favored throughout the primary, lost to Kelly by eight points.
According to the unofficial results, Kelly received 43,096 votes and Paton, a former Arizona senator, received 37,066.
In a post-primary memo, Rodd McLeod, Giffords' campaign manager, said, "With the defeat of lobbyist/insider Jonathan Paton in yesterday's Republican primary, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' prospects for re-election have brightened significantly. The Arizona Democratic Party's effort to defeat Mr. Paton over the summer was motivated by a desire to face Mr. Kelly in the fall.
"Mr. Kelly makes 2006 nominee Randy Graff appear moderate. As Mr. Kelly's own words will demonstrate, he is an ideologue with no interest in governing; he is hostile to moderate voters, to the middle class, and to the poor; he has embraced radical positions at every turn; he is not running for Congress to improve life for the people of Southern Arizona; he is running to eliminate Social Security, Medicare and the minimum wage."
Kelly fired back - calling Giffords harmful to the local economy, where state unemployment rates linger around 10 percent with no sign of decreasing.
"The local economy is highly dependent on homebuilding and incumbent Gabrielle Giffords is hurting homeowners with her votes," Kelly said in a press release. "Giffords voted for the recent Financial Reform Bill that imposes onerous new rules on lenders. The new regulations that Giffords supported are making it difficult for qualified borrowers to get a loan, thus hurting the economy in Southern Arizona.
"Giffords is so busy pushing her liberal, partisan agenda in Washington that she is not working on behalf of the residents of District 8. She deserves to be fired this November."
Giffords is also attacking Kelly for his views on Social Security, claiming early last week the Republican candidate wanted to do away with the system altogether, and then criticizing him on Monday for quickly changing his stance on the issue after winning the primary.
While the Giffords' camp seems confident in reelection, the anti-incumbent sentiment sweeping the nation could bring a surprise this November.
Giffords kicked off her general election efforts with a trip to Sierra Vista Saturday.
Neither Giffords nor Kelly appears to have plans to visit rural communities such as Benson and Willcox.
It didn't take long for the mud slinging to begin after last Tuesday's primary election, where Republican Jesse Kelly received voter approval to face incumbent Democrat Gabrielle Giffords in November's general election.
After Kelly's main challenger Jonathan Paton conceded the race just after 11 p.m. Aug. 24, press releases from Giffords' office seemed to indicate pleasure that Republican's choice to run for the state's eighth congressional seat in the House of Representatives would be Kelly.
Paton, who was favored throughout the primary, lost to Kelly by eight points.
According to the unofficial results, Kelly received 43,096 votes and Paton, a former Arizona senator, received 37,066.
In a post-primary memo, Rodd McLeod, Giffords' campaign manager, said, "With the defeat of lobbyist/insider Jonathan Paton in yesterday's Republican primary, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' prospects for re-election have brightened significantly. The Arizona Democratic Party's effort to defeat Mr. Paton over the summer was motivated by a desire to face Mr. Kelly in the fall.
"Mr. Kelly makes 2006 nominee Randy Graff appear moderate. As Mr. Kelly's own words will demonstrate, he is an ideologue with no interest in governing; he is hostile to moderate voters, to the middle class, and to the poor; he has embraced radical positions at every turn; he is not running for Congress to improve life for the people of Southern Arizona; he is running to eliminate Social Security, Medicare and the minimum wage."
Kelly fired back - calling Giffords harmful to the local economy, where state unemployment rates linger around 10 percent with no sign of decreasing.
"The local economy is highly dependent on homebuilding and incumbent Gabrielle Giffords is hurting homeowners with her votes," Kelly said in a press release. "Giffords voted for the recent Financial Reform Bill that imposes onerous new rules on lenders. The new regulations that Giffords supported are making it difficult for qualified borrowers to get a loan, thus hurting the economy in Southern Arizona.
"Giffords is so busy pushing her liberal, partisan agenda in Washington that she is not working on behalf of the residents of District 8. She deserves to be fired this November."
Giffords is also attacking Kelly for his views on Social Security, claiming early last week the Republican candidate wanted to do away with the system altogether, and then criticizing him on Monday for quickly changing his stance on the issue after winning the primary.
While the Giffords' camp seems confident in reelection, the anti-incumbent sentiment sweeping the nation could bring a surprise this November.
Giffords kicked off her general election efforts with a trip to Sierra Vista Saturday.
Neither Giffords nor Kelly appears to have plans to visit rural communities such as Benson and Willcox.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
True Citizen wrote on Sep 2, 2010 10:00 AM:
" GFiffords has been against Arizona citizens and needs to go. She did not support 1070 and is a Obama sock puppet. Enjoy your Cap and trade (or is it Tax?) and your obama care countesy of Griffords. Vote with your heads this time!!! "
Ron wrote on Sep 3, 2010 10:19 AM:
" Eliminate Social Security, Medicare and the minimum wage. Vote for Kelly "
I know better wrote on Sep 3, 2010 12:24 PM:
" Ron,
Typical Giffords style for spreading lies. Do some research and stop passing along Giffords talking points.
I hope you enjoy your tax increase and the 2011 train wreck coming your way. "
Typical Giffords style for spreading lies. Do some research and stop passing along Giffords talking points.
I hope you enjoy your tax increase and the 2011 train wreck coming your way. "
Ron wrote on Sep 3, 2010 5:10 PM:
" I know better:
I am happy you make over $200,00.00 a year and not on Social Security or medicare. Why else would you be worried about a tax increase. Like you said, check your facts. "
I am happy you make over $200,00.00 a year and not on Social Security or medicare. Why else would you be worried about a tax increase. Like you said, check your facts. "
I know better wrote on Sep 4, 2010 11:03 AM:
" Ron, Ron,Ron,
Ever hear about trickle down. Personal income taxes will raise for most small business which will be passed to you. This is why no one is hiring or expanding.
Marriage penalty will return.
Child tax credit will be cut from $1000 to $500.
Capital gains goes up (See sm. Busines above.)
Look up The “Medicine Cabinet Tax”
Just a few thanks to Giffords. "
Ever hear about trickle down. Personal income taxes will raise for most small business which will be passed to you. This is why no one is hiring or expanding.
Marriage penalty will return.
Child tax credit will be cut from $1000 to $500.
Capital gains goes up (See sm. Busines above.)
Look up The “Medicine Cabinet Tax”
Just a few thanks to Giffords. "
Elma wrote on Sep 5, 2010 7:56 AM:
" Kelly said “The local economy is highly dependent on homebuilding.” He must be talking about Green Valley, not Cochise County. "
cdg wrote on Sep 5, 2010 6:09 PM:
" @Ron,
Under Obama/Reid/Pelosi/Giffords, taxes have already gone up for those making less than $200,000 (note correct punctuation) a year, as well as for those on Social Security and Medicare, while benefits have been cut.
Under the proposals of the Democrats, taxes are scheduled to increase far more for those making less than $200,000 than those making more (many of whom are rich Democrats, who have never worked for a living).
The "Bush Tax Cuts" provided far more tax relief for the poor (in the form of refundable credits) and the middle class (in the form of lower tax rates and increased credits) than for "the rich".
Despite their rhetoric, when rich Democrats increase taxes, they increase them for the middle class, not for themselves and their rich contributors (including big business).
Then they cheat on their taxes, and don't pay the onerous rates they impose on everyone else.
The economy was doing just fine until the Democrats took over Congress 3.5 years ago, and refused to take steps to avoid the pending sub-prime mortgage crisis.
The economy would have fully recovered by now if it weren't for wasteful government spending on phony stimulus packages (which only benefited the unions, rich Democrats, and their Wall Street friends), and imposition of onerous regulatory programs (like Obamacare) that benefit no one.
"Check your facts" does not mean repeat DNC "talking points." "
Under Obama/Reid/Pelosi/Giffords, taxes have already gone up for those making less than $200,000 (note correct punctuation) a year, as well as for those on Social Security and Medicare, while benefits have been cut.
Under the proposals of the Democrats, taxes are scheduled to increase far more for those making less than $200,000 than those making more (many of whom are rich Democrats, who have never worked for a living).
The "Bush Tax Cuts" provided far more tax relief for the poor (in the form of refundable credits) and the middle class (in the form of lower tax rates and increased credits) than for "the rich".
Despite their rhetoric, when rich Democrats increase taxes, they increase them for the middle class, not for themselves and their rich contributors (including big business).
Then they cheat on their taxes, and don't pay the onerous rates they impose on everyone else.
The economy was doing just fine until the Democrats took over Congress 3.5 years ago, and refused to take steps to avoid the pending sub-prime mortgage crisis.
The economy would have fully recovered by now if it weren't for wasteful government spending on phony stimulus packages (which only benefited the unions, rich Democrats, and their Wall Street friends), and imposition of onerous regulatory programs (like Obamacare) that benefit no one.
"Check your facts" does not mean repeat DNC "talking points." "
cdg wrote on Sep 2, 2010 4:45 AM: