U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy was sworn in to Congress the same day as Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. They are about the same age and they each were married during their freshman term. And they are both Democrats with similar centerist political viewpoints.
"She's a good friend,'' Murphy said in a brief phone interview Saturday, just hours after learning that Giffords had been shot in the head while meeting with constituents at a supermarket just north of Tucson. "She's someone I've leaned on for counsel and advice."
Murphy and Giffords share something else in common: Like several other newer members of Congress they place a premium on public accessibility. Murphy, who represents Connecticut's 5th District, routinely holds "Congress in Your Corner" events at supermarkets across his district -- similar to the one Giffords was holding at the time of the shooting.
"Gabby and I have talked about it being really important to us to go to where our constituents are,'' Murphy said. "Gabby was doing what she loved to do, which is reaching out and talking to her constituents."
Those meetings aren't always present for members of Congress: Murphy hosted a raucous gathering at Stop and Shop in Simsbury during the summer of 2009, when he was repeatedly and loudly criticized for supporting President Obama's health care overhaul.
In the aftermath of the shooting, does Murphy think such public meetings are still a good idea? "I don't think anyone can draw any lessons yet from today,'' he said. But, he added, "I don't think there's anything you can do to shield yourself from one very disturbed person.''
h\t to Dudchik for tracking down the video