Gabrielle Giffords: Will she seek re-election?

Tragedy in Tucson

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords seen here shortly after she made her first trip home to Tucson, Ariz., five months after nearly dying when a gunman shot her in the head during a town hall meeting. (Getty)

Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of the tragic shooting in Tucson that claimed six lives and severely wounded Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.).

Giffords and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, will attend a memorial to the shooting victims Sunday at the University of Arizona on Sunday.

Giffords has spent the past year in rehabilitation learning how to walk and talk again. And she must decide whether she will seek re-election.

Kelly told CBS News national correspondent Ben Tracy recently Giffords will decide by May if she'll seek office again.

Kelly said Giffords will decide whether she can do the job. He told Tracy, "You know, it's going to be based on her ability to communicate with her constituents, and whether or not she has the stamina to do that amount of work."

Giffords' recovery has been so remarkable that she now carries on a weekly video conference call with her staff from Houston, where she is in rehab.

Kelly says Giffords struggles to speak, but understands everything. He told CBS News Giffords is constantly updated on what's going on in her district in Arizona and in her Washington, D.C., office.

When asked if there was a moment when the couple considered giving up her seat, Kelly said, "No, no, not yet. She is motivated to get better and return to her job serving the people of Southern Arizona."

Giffords has been back to Tucson three times this year.

She recorded a message for her constituents this fall, saying, "I'm getting stronger; I'm getting better. ... There is a lot to say. I will speak better. I want to get back to work."

Meanwhile her congressional staff has made sure her constituents are still taken care of.

The only vote Giffords made in the past year was to raise the nation's debt limit -- just seven months after she was shot in the head.

But nothing is on hold in her office, except phone calls -- they just keep coming.

Ron Barber, district director in Giffords' office, said the caseload has increased "quite dramatically" since the shooting. "We had a 23 percent increase in constituent requests in the first month, and that's continued," he said.

In Washington, Giffords' staff is working on border security and solar energy issues -- priorities Giffords made just before the shooting.

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by thatchmo62 January 18, 2012 3:12 PM EST: I think she should stay. She's an inspiration for others recovering from severe brain injuries. As long as her mind is sound and she can fulfill most of the duties of office, she should have the chance to keep her job. Heck, she can even communicate better than most of the members in Congress in her current state.; Reply to this comment


by kenodenis January 14, 2012 7:44 PM EST: I'm sick of her and I'm sick of her bald ugly husband. I think many others would agree. Don't go away mad, just go away.; Reply to this comment


by euge005 January 6, 2012 7:15 PM EST: this woman is a future Veep.; Reply to this comment

by azgal38 January 6, 2012 2:49 PM EST

I think Ms.Giffords owned a gun, not sure about her voting record but the NRA gave her a C- . She was seen as being pro gun. Very sad that a lunatic wasn't stopped-his parents, friends, the school he attended were aware that he was crazy. Did his parents have him evaluated ? The school he went to said he couldn't return until he sought help. I have no idea if it happened. But to blame this on gun owners or the gun lobby is ridiculous IMO.

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by euge005 January 6, 2012 7:17 PM EST: he was an adult and parents can only do so much. what this really is a win for the NRA and the Regeanites who insist every needs guns and the gobernment cannot bother running mental homes. such wins end intragedy as normal.


by Darr247 January 6, 2012 11:30 AM EST: I think she should run for the Senate seat that's up for re-election in AZ this year.; Reply to this comment


by moonglowsun January 6, 2012 11:14 AM EST: May the Lord continue to place His Healing Love on this woman. This person hopes with all her heart that Gabrielle finds herself strong enough to return and continue her good works.; Reply to this comment

by dtschuck January 6, 2012 11:09 AM EST

The gun lobby wishes that Gifford would just go away. Everyday, she's a reminder that guns don't keep us safe, but they do kill and maim.

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by mikebutler January 6, 2012 9:58 PM EST: dtschuck, the "Gun Lobby" will do just fine with or without Gabby Giffords. She happens to be a gun owner herself, in fact the very same brand that was misused in that monstrous assault on her, and she has claimed to be a pretty good shot. She has always been an outspoken supporter of the Second Amendment, which means that she rejects your argument that "guns don't keep us safe, but they do kill and maim." In reality, wherever gun ownership is strong and gun rights are protected, crime is low. And as gun sales in this country reach record numbers, crime continues to shrink. Get your facts straight.

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