Giffords campaign fundraiser announced

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' congressional friends are planning a fundraiser for her re-election while she recovers from her brain injury.

The March 15 event in Washington is being hosted by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Reps. Adam Smith, D-Wash., and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., Politico reported Wednesday.

"We are so proud of her as she continues to make incredible strides in her recovery," their invitation letter says.

"She's getting better and we know she's going to come back, and we want to make sure that her operations continue," Smith told Politico.

Some have mentioned the Democratic congresswoman from Tucson as a possible candidate for the Arizona Senate seat Republican Jon Kyl is vacating if she recovers sufficiently, but the fundraiser is for the Giffords for Congress committee. Money raised for a House campaign could be transferred to a Senate race.

Giffords' committee had $285,501 on hand at the end of January, after she spent about $3.9 million to win a third term in one of the closest races of 2010.