Mark Kelly emerges as frontrunner for Harris's VP pick
Mark Kelly is increasingly mentioned as a potential vice-presidential candidate for Kamala Harris in the USA. According to experts, his position is robust enough to be highlighted as one of the two favourites for this role.
Although after Joe Biden's withdrawal, the Democratic Party has not indicated who their presidential candidate for the US elections will be, the current vice president Kamala Harris is considered a near-certainty.
American media are also speculating who could become Harris's vice-presidential candidate. One of the favourites is Mark Kelly, senator from Arizona. According to ABC News, Harris is hesitating between two candidates: Kelly and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Diverse experience
Mark Kelly is certainly not a random candidate, and many Americans already consider him a national hero. The 60-year-old served in the military as a naval aviator and took part in 39 combat missions, including Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
He transitioned from the military to NASA, where he served from 1996 to 2011. As an astronaut, he flew into space four times, including commanding the last mission of the shuttle Endeavour. He retired in 2011 when his wife, then a congresswoman, narrowly escaped death after being shot in the head.
Despite retiring, in 2015-2016, Kelly participated in NASA's renowned experiment. His twin brother Scott, also serving in NASA, returned from the International Space Station (ISS) after over a year.
Upon Scott's return from orbit, the twins were subjected to detailed examinations to determine the effects of space travel on the human body.
In recent years, Kelly became involved in politics with the Democratic Party. In 2020, he became a senator for the state of Arizona, defeating the then-incumbent Martha McSally. He became the first Democratic senator from Arizona in over half a century.
National hero Mark Kelly
Commentators emphasise that Kelly would be an excellent complement to the liberal Harris. Additionally, his military experience, which the current vice president lacks, works in his favour.
To many Americans, Kelly became a national hero when he sacrificed his career to take care of his recovering wife.
Mark Kelly himself avoids answering whether he will be named the vice-presidential candidate. He repeats to journalists that his goal is to lead Kamala Harris to victory.
