Mark Kelly: No Political Career for Me

In remarks at the National Press Club today, astronaut Mark Kelly said he does not see a political career on the horizon after he retires from NASA in October. A possible run for the U.S. Senate had been rumored after Kelly announced he would be retiring from the space agency.

Kelly said his priorities for the foreseeable future are to help his wife, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), recover from gunshot wounds she suffered during an assassination attempt in January and to spend more time with his children. He said his wife was recovering well.

Kelly did joke that the rumors of him running for office must mean that it is a very slow news summer. He added that he would provide more details on his post NASA career next week after visiting Iowa and New Hampshire, two key Presidential primary states. That got a big laugh from the crowd.