Giffords boost visibility ahead of midterm

Former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) and husband Mark Kelly are showing more of a public appearance this weekend, visiting Maine on Saturday to fundraise for Rep. Mike Michaud (D-Maine), the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in a tight race there.

The pair will headline a Kennebunkport fundraiser for Michaud after a private meeting nearby with former President George H. W. Bush and wife Barbara, according to The Associated Press.

Giffords, who looks to make gun control an issue in the midterm election, is focusing on seven Senate and four House races.

The news comes the same week that former White House press secretary and ardent gun control advocate James Brady died.

Support for more gun control, which ticked up after the 2012 Newtown shooting, has generally gone down since the early 1990s, according to Gallup, though Americans remain largely divided on the issue.