Former U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords predicted Thursday during a rousing appearance at the Democratic National Convention that Kamala Harris can “defeat the gun lobby” and protect access to abortion services.
Greeted by chants of “Gabby! Gabby!” Giffords took the stage in Chicago for a three-minute speech in which she discussed her Arizona roots, her work in Congress and how her life was turned upside down by a would-be assassin.
Giffords thanked President Joe Biden for his continued interest in her well-being before explaining her position in favor of Harris.
“Joe is a great president,” Giffords said. “My friend Kamala will be a great president.
“She’s tough. She’s got guts. Kamala can beat the gun lobby. She can fight the arms trade. Kamala stood up to Wall Street and the pharmaceutical companies. She’ll protect access to abortion.”
It was Giffords’ third speech at the party convention since she was shot in the head at a voter rally near Tucson in 2011, and is part of her more visible presence in American politics this year.
She continues to be an inspiration in Democratic circles, drawing applause before she even speaks, as she did again on Thursday.
Her husband, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., stood next to her as she spoke. She admitted she was “falling for an astronaut” before blowing him a kiss.
Earlier this year, Giffords and Kelly wrote an essay on in vitro fertilization and condemned political violence following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in July.
And after 2021 Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance’s comments in which he portrayed Democrats as “a bunch of childless cat ladies” resurfaced, Giffords called the attacks on people without children “disgraceful.”
Giffords was one of three prominent Arizonans who spoke at the convention on Thursday.
Kelly and U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) followed within minutes, giving the swing state an unusually prominent role on the final night of the convention.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Gabrielle Giffords gets applause at DNC, calls for support for Harris
