GOP leader wounded in shooting is set to hit campaign trail

WASHINGTON – House Majority Whip Steve Scalise has returned to the Capitol after another surgery stemming from last year’s congressional baseball shooting, and he is eager to hit the campaign trail for the GOP majority.

The Louisiana Republican told reporters he’s anxious to get back on the ball field but still has a ways to go in recovery. He nearly died when a gunman opened fire on GOP lawmakers practicing for the annual game. He hopes last week’s surgery was his last.

Scalise was upbeat about fundraising for the midterms and is heading to Chicago next week to counter the Democratic haul from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

He says, “She’s surely not slowing down, and we can’t either.”

Scalise avoided questions about whether he’ll run to replace retiring Speaker Paul Ryan.