Gabby Giffords attends campaign concert in Tucson

(CBS/AP) TUSCON - Gabrielle Giffords only spoke a few words on Saturday night, but her many supporters who came to a get-out-the-vote rally and concert at the Rialto Theater say that was enough to make their night.

Giffords made an appearance at Ron Barber's campaign concert and thanked her supporters, reports CBS Affiliate KOLD.

It was her first public appearance in Tucson since she stepped down from office in January. Giffords relinquished her seat to concentrate on her recovery from a gunshot wound to the head.

Many supporters couldn't wait to see Giffords and find out about her recovery since the January 8, 2011 shooting.

Jeannine Burton said Giffords holds a very special place in her heart and was a unique congresswoman.

"She really spent the time doing things, like that 'Congresswoman on the corner' events, where she really allowed constituents to come up randomly about things that were going on in their personal lives," said Burton.

Giffords declined a one-on-one interview.

Voters are deciding in Tuesday's special election on whom shall complete the remainder of Giffords' term: a former Giffords aide, the Democrat Barber, who was injured in the January 2011 shooting rampage outside a Tucson grocery store that killed six people, including a 9-year-old girl and a federal judge, and wounded 11 others; or Republican Jesse Kelly, who narrowly lost to Giffords in 2010.

Holding onto the seat is crucial for Democrats seeking to regain control of the House.

The party needs a net gain of 25 seats in November to grab the majority from Republicans, who now hold a 240-192 advantage, with three vacancies (including Giffords' seat).

Democrats argue that Barber will continue Giffords' work and hope the good will that she engendered with Arizona voters who have following her recovery will benefit him. Before serving as a Giffords aide, Barber worked with the disabled and their families at the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities. He and his wife also owned two children's toy and clothing stores.

Jeffrey Rogers, chairman of the Pima County Democratic Party, said he believes voters will be comforted by the mild-mannered, soft-spoken Barber. But Rogers did express surprise that Barber didn't rely on Giffords more for the campaign.

"I would have brought her in more," he said. "She's very popular."

Barber insists that his campaign has reached out to Giffords and "she has done everything we have asked her to do."

Reflecting the closeness of the Arizona contest, Democrats made a last-minute appeal for money that referred to Kelly as a "radical Tea Party Republican," and said Barber would fight to continue Giffords' legacy in Congress.

Democrats are trying to cast the 30-year-old Kelly as too extreme for a district that has historically supported lawmakers who reached across the aisle to forge compromise. Before Giffords, Republican Jim Kolbe represented the district for 22 years.

Democrats point to Kelly's past comments about Social Security, including his remark in the 2010 race that "you have to take steps to reform it, to privatize it, to phase it out."

A Democratic-affiliated group, the House Majority PAC, is running an ad filled with past Kelly comments. Most notably, he criticized Giffords during the 2010 campaign, saying, "and now she stands there with that smile and pretends to be some kind of hometown hero. She's a hero of nothing," he said.

The ad's narrator notes the comments were made two years ago — months before the shooting — but that distinction could be lost among those focused on the disdain in Kelly's voice as he speaks of Giffords. The comments came as Kelly was talking about spending policies Giffords supported that he said were bankrupting the nation.

Kelly, a 6-foot-8 Marine who served in Iraq, has shifted his position on several issues. On his campaign website, he said he would not support any overhaul of Social Security that would privatize it, cut benefits or raise the retirement age. He also has aired a television ad with his grandfather where he promises to protect Social Security and Medicare.

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[sharkboy234]

democrat vs republican in Arizona

[mick7744]

It is obscene to even imagine a tea-bagging, lying, flip-floping extremist like Jesse Kelly could be rewarded with a congressional seat over what happened to Gabby Giffords and 17 of her supporters last year.

Is Kelly still offering to let supporters fire a fully automatic M-16 as he was doing before Gabrialle was shot down?

Why didn't they just offer the damn seat to Sarah Palin and be done with it?

As if her divaness would ever deign to to become a lowly congresswoman...forced to work much harder than she ever did as Governor of Alaska...a job she said she hated (especially after her humilating display of willful ignorence and mean-spirited hate-mongering as McCain's running mate, when selling out to FauxNooze became her only option (honoring her oath to the citizens of her state by serving out her termwas never even considered

Kelly sucks...Palin sucks...McCain sucks...Arizona sucks...all Republicans and tea-party "patriots" and gun-nuts SUCK!

[knewsteerrrrr]

GO AWAY woman, your story was interesting- about a YEAR ago, now it's nothing short of being a media hoar to continue getting in the news at this point!

[notreich]

The woods are full of Republicans who (just like Jesse Kelly) talk of phasing out and "privatizing" Social Security and Medicare, but somehow come election time they deny ever saying it. During the 2010 campaign Kelly is well-documented and on record saying about Social Security, "You have to take steps to reform it, to privatize it, to phase it out." Now he says he would do none of that. He even airs an ad with his grandfather promising to protect Social Security and Medicare. ha

[notreich]

The Republicans have a lot of gall to even run this disgusting Jesse Kelly against Giffords' replacement. He was her Tea Party opponent in her last election. Jesse Kelly held a rally on June 12, prior to the shooting attack on her and her supporters. The flyer for the rally said: "Get on target for victory in November/Help remove Gabrielle Giffords from office/Shoot a fully automatic M-16 with Jesse Kelly." So attendees shot machine guns to somehow help get rid of Gabby! Who would ever think somebody would then actually shoot her? A lot of people thought that, and still do.

[Bucky4U]

Jess Kelly is a nutcased holy roller.

Jesse Kelly's firm benefited from stimulus he criticized

http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/2012/05/22/20120522jesse-kelly-stimulus-benefits.html

[rrowleyarizona]

Article and Video: Jesse Kelly Says Health Care Is A "Privilege You Earn" http://******/IrWsia

Article: Jesse Kelly Would Privatize Social Security http://******/JPVE4E

Article AND Video: Jesse Kelly trying to hide endorsement by extremist racist group?? http://******/KEEkxX All about ALIPAC http://******/KLBcAj

Article: "Corporate Personhood" Citizens United Endorses Jesse Kelly in Special Election http://******/w4YGg8

Article: Jesse Kelly, Arizona Congressional Candidate, Claimed Not To Know Where Stimulus Funds Went http://******/LISvHf

Article: Jesse Kelly Trying To Walk Back His Call to Eliminate the Minimum Wage http://******/HYa1SG

Article: CD8 candidate Jesse Kelly's economic platform similar to Communist nations http://******/zBKXth

Article: CD8 Republican Jesse Kelly Calls For New National Sales Tax http://******/xNFoui

Article: Giffords Opponent, Jesse Kelly, Held June Event to "Shoot a Fully Automatic M16 to "Get on Target" and "Remove Gabrielle Giffords" http://******/zsqdwJ and http://******/A5to9a

Article: PAC Behind GOP Candidate For Gabby Giffords Seat Shows Gun In Email Appeal http://******/LopnpN

Article: More Jesse Kelly Lies About Medicare http://******/IUOmPk

Article and Video: Jesse Kelly: "Oil Is A Renewable Resource" http://******/xlm23i

Article: Jesse Kelly Supported by Groups Tied to White Supremacists, Neo-Nazis, in 2010 AND 2012 http://******/HR9RfR

Letter: Tucson Tea Party Co-Founder: 13 Questions for Jesse Kelly that must be answered before you vote http://******/zCtsMM

Article: Jesse Kelly's firm benefited from stimulus he criticized http://******/MV8LGK

Video: Jesse Kelly's ENTIRE platform http://******/JjkdXr

Simply put, Jesse Kelly has neither the brains, credibility or honesty for public office, the will for fighting or the compassion to represent the people of southern Arizona either CD8 OR CD2.

[jeannettelj]

If Jesse Kelly were running against a dog, the dog would get my vote.

[notparicular]

I am tired of seeing her goody-two-shoes face. Can we be spared?

[well_I_say]

You do know you don't have to click on the story if you don't want to read it?

[me4sure]

This country is in desperate need of good people, good ideas, good will, and a good government. Please show me more goody-two-shoes.

[r9119111]

Thank you, Gabby. Gabby has been the victim of political extremism. I hope we don't have any more of this behavior from political extremists.

The people of America can never repay you for your sacrifice at the hands of the extremists among us.

[occupy_cbs]

Aaaaaah.....typical republican FLIP-FLOPPER, first saying, "you have to take steps to reform it, to privatize it, to phase it out," and is now airing a television ad with his grandfather where he promises to protect Social Security and Medicare.

Fact is, kelly is full of teabagging extremism!