Fallout from election for Giffords' seat

The Associated Press

PHOENIX -- Ron Barber's decisive victory in a special election for the congressional seat held by his old boss, Gabrielle Giffords, is raising questions over whether his Republican opponent would continue campaigning for November.

Tea party Republican Jesse Kelly lost Tuesday's election by 6 percentage points. That's a significant margin, analysts say, considering the district voted for Republicans in the past two presidential elections and that Kelly very nearly unseated Giffords in the 2010 campaign.

Barber, expected to be sworn into Congress on Tuesday, will have to win over voters again in the Aug. 28 primary and in the Nov. 6 general election.

Kelly says he's "reflecting on the future" and would have an announcement by the end of the week.

Barber, appearing with Giffords at a Tucson hotel Tuesday night, told supporters, "Life takes unexpected turns and here we are, thanks to you."

Giffords hugged him and kissed his forehead.

Kelly had narrowly lost to Giffords in 2010 in a competitive district. Giffords has made few public appearances since resigning in January to focus on her recovery from the mass shooting in which Barber was also wounded, but she dashed back to Tucson to help her former district director in the campaign's final days.

Democratic officials were quick to argue that the victory sets the stage for them to win back control of the House.

"This campaign previewed the message fight that will play out across the country in November: Democrats committed to protecting the middle class, Social Security and Medicare versus misleading Republican attacks on Obamacare and national Democrats," said Rep. Steve Israel (D-Dix Hills), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

But Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said special elections are unique and the Arizona race was particularly so because of what had happened to Giffords. He predicted that Barber would not fare as well in the fall with President Barack Obama leading the ticket.