New Spot Showcases Gabby Giffords Backing Gavin Newsom

In a new television ad released this week by the Gavin Newsom gubernatorial campaign, former Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her astronaut husband Scott Kelly give a shout out to the top contender for the governor’s mansion.

Giffords, who became a staunch gun control advocate after she narrowly survived an assassination attempt in 2011, and Kelly had already endorsed Newsom early this year. But the 30 second spot is their first campaign video of the current electoral cycle, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Sitting side by side with his wife, as video of students protesting following the Parkland, Florida school shooting flash on the screen, Kelly says, “Our country is at a crossroads.”

“Our children are demanding we stop America’s gun violence epidemic.”

“Yet many of our leaders cower behind empty rhetoric,” Kelly continues, as the screen flashes with tweets from Donald Trump, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell offering bromides about thoughts and prayers, issued after shootings.

By way of contrast, Kelly says, “Gavin Newsom doesn’t just talk. Gavin took on the NRA and won.”

“While others laid low, Gavin passed California’s first comprehensive safety initiative,” he said, referring to a 2016 ballot initiative.

So, actually it was the voters who passed the legislation not Newsom.

Although Newsom did propose it. The measure, which banned large capacity magazines and required background checks for people buying bullets, passed with 63% of the vote.

After the boost from Kelly, Giffords, whose speech is still stilted due to being shot in the head in 2011, says, “Gavin will always stand up to the gun lobby.”

She then haltingly repeats the Newsom campaign slogan, “Courage for Change.”

The campaign video is a follow-up to the enthusiastic backing of Newsom by the couple earlier this year.

“We know that the clearest most sensible voice on this issue and by far the greatest leader on this issue is Gavin Newsom,” Kelly asserted in a January campaign appearance with his wife.

.@ShuttleCDRKelly introduces his wife @GabbyGiffords as they endorse @GavinNewsom in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/1GtWltlDzQ

— Javier Panzar ???? (@jpanzar) January 26, 2018