In her very first television interview since returning to work from maternity leave, Rep. Tammy Duckworth has more than work and a new baby to juggle.
The congresswoman is also considering running for the U.S. Senate against Republican Mark Kirk.
Duckworth says she's got some time to decide if she's going to try for the U.S. Senate – but not too much. She's not the only Democrat interested, however, many believe she'd be the frontrunner.
“I don't think I would be the first working mom bringing my baby with me everywhere,” Duckworth said in an exclusive interview with NBC Chicago.
Duckworth, as well three other Democrats including Reps. Bill Foster, Robin Kelly and Cheri Bustos are all talking of a Senate race that may pit them against Kirk.
“If we can avoid a primary that would be great,” Duckworth said.
Kirk, who suffered a stroke in 2012, is running for re-election.
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When asked if she thought the stroke Kirk suffered impacted his ability to handle the job, she didn’t want to speak for him.
“Gosh, I don’t know,” Duckworth said. “He would have to answer that.”
Iraqi war vet Duckworth, who lost her legs in a helicopter crash, was at the White House last week when the president signed a suicide prevention act for veterans.
“It will put resources into the community so that Alexian Brothers Health System has some treatment programs,” she said of the initiative.
Duckworth privately shared photos of her new daughter Abigail, who she says attended her first political event a few weeks ago. Despite already making her political debut, Duckworth hopes to maintain her daughter’s privacy.
“I have not even posted my daughter's photos on Facebook or Twitter,” she said. “A lot of folks do that, but these days it's so scary out there with social media.”
She will be commuting with her baby to Washington, and she's still marveling at having her first baby at the age of 46.
“I look at her and think she's an angel who's come to live with us,” Duckworth added.
So when will she decide if she in or out for the Senate race?
She said she’s hoping to have a few more months to weigh her options, but until she says no, most consider Duckworth as a yes.
