WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Harry Reid said Friday he's on the mend despite injuries from an exercise accident that has taken away the vision in his right eye.
The Nevadan is the top Democrat in the new Republican-controlled Congress and is recovering from broken ribs and bones in his face after a resistance band broke last week and sent him barreling into cabinets at his new home. He said blood in the eye has harmed his vision but that he's hopeful of recovery.
"I've had a serious injury to my eye," Reid said. "There's blood accumulation there."
Reid said he just missed an even more serious, perhaps life-threatening injury to his brain.
"Fortunately it missed my temple by just a little tiny bit," Reid said.
Reid has had to skip work this week and will miss next week's Democratic retreat in Baltimore but says he's eager to return to the Senate to fight GOP legislation that would permit construction of the Keystone XL pipeline project. The House approved the project Friday.
"I don't think it's going to happen," Reid said. "I'm confident the president is going to veto it."
The 75-year-old Reid is up for re-election in 2016, and he's given every indication that he's running.
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