Mark Kelly not running for Giffords' seat

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Mark Kelly said Friday he is not running for the House seat left vacant by the resignation of his wife, Gabrielle Giffords D-Ariz.

Although it's common for a person to run for a seat vacated by their spouse, Kelly, a NASA astronaut and naval officer, put aside any speculation he would continue his wife's work in Congress.

"That would not be me," Kelly told CNN. "I'm not running. My job right now is to make sure Gabby has everything she needs."

Kelly said the decision to resign from Congress was "difficult" for Giffords, but she made the choice to focus on the recovery of her communication skills, The Hill reported.

"She doesn't have the stamina to work as hard," Kelly said. The ability to communicate with her constituents "is not where it needs to be; not the understanding of language but the transmission part."

Kelly vowed Giffords would return to public life, USA Today reported.

"Her goal is to recover to the point where she can get back to public service," Kelly said.

Giffords was shot in the head Jan. 8, 2011, outside a Tucson supermarket in a shooting rampage. Jared Lee Loughner was arrested and charged with the shooting that killed six people.