Schilling to make Senate decision 'in relatively short order'

Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling said Thursday he expects to make a decision on whether or not to run for Senate "in relatively short order."

Schilling said he would be lying to say he hasn't thought about running as a Republican in the special election to fill the seat left absent by Sen. Edward Kennedy's (D-Mass.) death.

"It’s not an absolute certainty one way or the other," he said during an interview on WEEI radio. "If there’s the potential and possibility and some things align themselves on the home front, ultimately it comes down to the conversation between Shonda and I – the wife and the kids."

He said, though, that his wife probably not interested in having him run, though Schilling said he's talked to "quite a few" people about his possible candidacy.

The baseball player has long been involved in politics, having been a prominent supporter of President George W. Bush's reelection campaign in 2004.

Schilling played down the idea of his candidacy, blaming the media for hyping up his words about running, but said "the fight would be fun."

He also referenced now Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) as someone who gave him hope in pivoting from the public spotlight to elected office.