Rum, Romanism and Rebellion

I attended Gabrielle Giffords’s announcement yesterday. Yes, I am not even pretending to be neutral. Have a problem with that?

When I worked for Gen. Clark’s campaign, it used to frustrate my boss that I was bad at estimating crowd size. This is the reason why I can never be a real political reporter. I’ll tell you that one of the patios at the Arizona Inn was packed. Some of the people were the people that have been raising money for Democratic candidates for years, but I also saw party activists, environmentalists, Latino activists as well as people involved in the gay community.

By the way, for those of you who are short on knowledge about Tucson history. The Arizona Inn was built by Isabella Greenway after she came back from her service as Arizona’s first woman in congress. See, symbolism and stuff. I’m waiting for Giffords to point out that Greenway liked roller skating too.

Giffords was introduced by Dorothy Finley (who is a Republican!), her long time campaign chair Michael McNulty, Eddie Basha, and Rep. Raúl Grijalva.

Dorothy Finley has been a long time Republican activist in town. I have heard some liberals concerned about the causes she has been associated with, but the support of the Republicans she hangs with will be crucial when Giffords is the nominee against Randy Graf.

McNulty pointed out how many great Democrats have represented Southeastern Arizona. He named Lewis Douglas, Isabella Greenway, Stewart Udall, Mo Udall and Jim McNulty. What, Michael, no Harold “Por Qué” Patten? Your Dad wouldn’t have missed that one…

Grijalva’s endorsement of Giffords is interesting. I was suprised when I heard that he was doing so. Let’s face it, Grijalva and Giffords run in different crowds. Giffords has a lot to offer to progressive voters despite her reputation as a moderate. Liberal activists who may be uncomfortable with Giffords and her pro-buisiness record will probably give her a second look with Grijalva’s support. Plus, la Maquina Grijalva can’t hurt, even on the East side.

Giffords gave an excellent speech, where she took some polite shots at her opponents’ lack of legislative experience. She talked about what she was able to get accomplished in the legislature, as well as how she was raised to respect people of all cultures and backgrounds. Heck, that alone provides a great contrast to Graf.

Patty Gelenberg-Weiss chose yesterday to announce that Tom Chandler is the chairman of her campaign. Chandler has helped lead the campaigns of Mo Udall, Jim McNulty, and if memory serves, was the chair of Grijalva’s 2002 campaign (Clarification below).

Chandler is a good addition to the campaign. Giffords has done a good job of building “inevitablility” by attracting many big Democratic party names. Picking up Chandler shows that Gelenberg-Weiss is going to have a serious campaign that can attract people that can help raise money. Also, I have to give some props to them for releasing the news on the day of Giffords’s announcement to put a dent in some of Giffords’s publicity. It shows some agility on the part of her campaign.

Looks like we’ve got ourselves a race.

CLARIFICATION: My memory didn’t serve and Tom Chandler is Raúl Grijalva’s treasurer and has been since 2002. R-Cubed regrets the error.