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Giffords and Kelly to campaign for Hillary Clinton in Tucson

Posted at 11:44 AM, Oct 22, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-23 20:12:08-04

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and husband Mark Kelly campaigned for Hillary Clinton Sunday in Tucson at the Pima County Democratic Party Headquarters. Speaking to the community she once represented, Giffords is urging voters to support Hillary Clinton, not Donald Trump.

"Hillary is tough. Hillary is courageous," Giffords said. "She will fight to make our families safer."

Both Giffords and Kelly believe what many recent polls are saying about Arizona, a battleground state in an election for the first time in years. They say it'll go blue, and the way to make that happen is to get out the vote.

"You know, in a state like Arizona, the only thing that's going to work is a strong, get out the vote effort," Kelly said.

The former congresswoman and astronaut both are gun owners, supporters of the Second Amendment -- like Donald Trump. However, unlike the Republican nominee, Giffords and Kelly say it's time that the gun laws change.

"Responsible changes to our gun laws," Kelly said. "But changes that also respect the rights of gun owners like myself."

They believe Clinton will do just that.

"In the White House, she will stand up to the gun lobby," Giffords explained. "That's why I'm voting for Hillary."

As for the current state of politics, Kelly says it gets worse every year.

"This is the worst I think we've seen in my lifetime," he said. "I'm 52 years old, and this is certainly the worst we've ever seen it. I mean the Congress is more polarized than ever."

By January, Giffords says she has a hope, and a goal.

"Speaking is difficult for me, but come January," she said. "I want to say these two words: Madam President."

Giffords and Kelly plan on continuing to try and appeal to voters up until the election. The next stops: Florida, New Hampshire, and North Carolina.