Meet Mark Kelly, Kamala Harris’s leading vice presidential candidate and a “national hero” whose record on a key issue is critical to the 2024 presidential election

Mark Kelly was a public figure, but certainly not a politician, when a deranged gunman shot his wife, Rep. Gabby Giffords, in the head as she spoke to voters in a grocery store parking lot.

Now leading Democrats and even some Republicans say he is the logical choice to replace Vice President Kamala Harris with the running mate, citing his background as a Navy pilot and astronaut and his role in denouncing the terrible family tragedy to fight for gun control and curbing gun violence.

“What I know is that he and Gabby are very close, and it moves me how much he embraces the cause that she’s committed to,” said Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), who knew Giffords from his time in the House and who was the first senator to publicly call on Joe Biden to step back from his presidential campaign.

“It’s just a really moving story about a loving couple who turned their tragedy into hope for so many people,” he told DailyMail.com, calling it “inspiring.”

After an initial flurry of reports about a handful of moderate governors who could help Harris win in a state where things aren’t quite as good, Kelly has emerged as a leading candidate who could help Harris leverage political weaknesses along the border, drawing inspiration from his biography.

“This guy has served more days of active military service than anyone in Congress. He has two Distinguished Flying Crosses. He’s been vetted through life in a way that most people can’t imagine. He’s the closest thing we have to a national hero,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), another booster.

“The guy doesn’t play politics. But he knows more about the ships and the planes and the weapons that we use to defend our country than anyone in Congress, as far as I know. Everything he’s done has been in service of his country,” he added.

At a time when potential candidates are taking over the airwaves — Kelly took to the airwaves on Wednesday to defend Harris and slam Trump — Kelly’s understated approach could ensure the astronaut won’t overshadow Harris.

“He’s not going to be chest-beating. You don’t see him hanging out on talk shows. He’s a public servant. And the great thing about him, when I look at Vice President Harris’s position, is he doesn’t need a lot of oxygen. He doesn’t have to take up a lot of space. It’s going to be the president there who’s going to be the real leader of this country. And he’ll be a partner to her (if elected). But my God, what a good partner he would be,” Hickenlooper added.

The credentials on his resume, both inside and outside of politics, were enough to put Kelly on a short list of governors who could help create swing states (Donald Trump holds a narrow lead in the polls in Arizona, which Biden won in 2020).

– He flew 39 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm as a Navy pilot.

– He received two Distinguished Flying Crosses.

– He traveled to space four times as an astronaut and spent 54 days high above the Earth.

– He piloted the space shuttle Endeavour, lived aboard the International Space Station and even flew aboard a Russian rocket.

– Kelly, 60, participated in a NASA twin study with his brother Scott.

Kelly entered politics after his wife Gabby Giffords was shot while meeting with voters in Arizona

Harris has a trip planned for next week with her running mate, and is considering governors from swing states

Vice Presidential Immunity: Kelly and his twin brother Scott Kelly (above) participated in a NASA twin study while Scott Kelly was on the International Space Station. Here, Scott Kelly gets a flu shot

Trump camp continues to criticize Kamala Harris over border violations

Kelly served in Operation Desert Storm and received two Distinguished Flying Crosses before flying on four space shuttle missions. “He’s the closest we have to a national hero,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.).

And he has occasionally taken aim at the Biden administration by calling for tough measures at the border, where his state regularly deals with migrants crossing illegally from Mexico.

That gives him a chance to make up for a major flaw in Harris’s case: Republicans continue to criticize her for her efforts as a “border queen” that have failed to stem an influx of migrants.

His appeal has even earned him praise from Republicans in the clubby Senate. “I know Mark. He’s a good guy. I like him. I mean, he’s got one of the most incredible stories you could ever have,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

“I think he has a unique resume. He would be a tough choice,” said Graham, who has traveled with Kelly.

Kelly was elected in 2020 to fill the seat vacated by Sen. John McCain, a war hero known for sometimes attacking his party. Kelly has frequently visited the border and pushed the Biden administration to close holes in the border wall.

As a member of the Armed Services Committee, he regularly speaks on global issues that could trip up a governor during a debate, at a time when war is looming in the Middle East.

When it comes to screening — at a time when comments from Republican Sen. J.D. Vance continue to cause headaches — the former astronaut has been poked and prodded more than any politician in recent memory except the late Sen. John Glenn (R-Ohio).

Kelly was part of a unique NASA twin study that monitored his physiology and even his cognitive function compared to his twin brother, Scott, who was also an astronaut. Mark Kelly was on the ground while his brother spent about a year in space in 2015 and 2016, which essentially served as a baseline, since he hadn’t been in space in years at that point.

“Persistent changes were observed in a number of measurements even after 6 months on Earth, including the expression levels of some genes, increased DNA damage due to chromosomal inversions, increased numbers of short telomeres, and impaired cognitive functions,” said the study, which was designed to investigate how humans could cope with long-term space flight.

The brothers all received a flu shot, had their cardiovascular systems analyzed and even their genes examined.

Kelly had a private conversation with Harris’ research team, Politico reported.