CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.— President Barack Obama has met with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona congresswoman who survived an assassination attempt in January. The president and the lawmaker were in Florida to witness the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour. Giffords’ husband, Mark Kelly, is the mission commander.

The White House said Obama saw Giffords for about 10 minutes before meeting the shuttle’s full crew of the shuttle. The launch of the Endeavour was delayed Friday due to technical problems.

Kelly greeted Obama in a corridor, saying: “I bet you were hoping to see a rocket launch today.”

Obama replied: “We were hoping to see you.”

The two men shook hands and embraced.

Giffords was shot Jan. 8 in Tucson in a rampage that left six dead and wounded 12 others.


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