GIFFORDS' STAFF WON'T SPECULATE, UNDERSTANDABLY

posted by Michael Chihak

One by one, members of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' staff and others in her personal and political circle declined this week to appear on camera to talk about how her circumstances were contributing to Arizona's unique political dynamic.

That slowly but surely drove this correspondent to a new level of understanding of the issues and a much broader approach to the story. For while Giffords' situation is the biggest unknown now in the state's political equation, there are other factors worth exploring and from which new information can be brought to light.

Examples on the program include two political communications specialists who think the state's 2012 campaign season and election will be affected by a strong, consistent re-election campaign from President Obama. Unlike 2008 when he demurred to opponent John McCain's favorite son status in the state, both consultants said they think Obama's campaign will pour significant resources into the state.

Another was the notion that while the media want to pick away at all the details of the Giffords' situation, Sen. Jon Kyl's retirement and other factors, that can make voters weary and even disaffected with not only the media but the electoral process.

Just two examples of how being steered off our chosen course on the topic actually got us -- and our viewers -- onto a slightly different course that presented new scenery.

Viewers will be the judge, but it looks as if discussing the situation as we were compelled to do led us to accomplish it with a minimum of speculation, putting us approximately where those in Giffords' circle are.