Tucson shooting survivor poised for congressional run

Tucson shooting survivor poised for congressional run for Giffords' old seat

Ron Barber, Gabrielle Giffords' soft-spoken former state director who was wounded in the Jan. 8, 2011, mass shooting near Tucson, appears to have emerged as the frontrunner to receive the former congresswoman's endorsement in the race to finish her term.

Barber, 66, continues to cope with physical and psychological challenges related to his injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder and a lack of stamina that leaves him exhausted after about four hours of work. But he has long been the sentimental favorite of many southern Arizona Democrats to succeed Giffords, who resigned Jan. 25. The latest chatter is that Barber will run in this year's special election to finish Giffords' third term in the current 8th Congressional District, but would not seek a full term of his own in the new 2nd Congressional District. Giffords' district was redrawn and renumbered as part of this year's redistricting process.
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