Though he admits they "don't agree on much," South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham got choked up talking about his friendship with Democratic Vice President Joe Biden, calling him "as good a man as God has ever created."
In a videotaped excerpt of an interview with The Huffington Post, posted Friday, Graham talks movingly about how Biden has dealt with the death in May of his son,
Beau Biden.
"I called him after Beau died, and he basically said, 'Well Beau was my soul'," Graham said, his voice trembling, adding that Biden gave a speech at Graham's retirement party from the Air Force Reserve "and said some of the most incredibly heartfelt things that anybody could ever say to me."
"He's THE nicest person I've ever met in politics," Graham said. "He's as good a man as God has ever created."
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Graham added, "We don't agree on much," but noted Biden has "been dealt a real gut blow" yet "focuses on what he's got to do, not what he's lost."
"His heart has been ripped out but he's gonna make sure the other members of his family are well taken care of," Graham said. "He's more worried about his grandkids than anything…. He started talking about the future, the future of his family."
Business Insider notes Biden and Graham's relationship has been well documented, including in 2013, when Biden told Graham he'd do whatever it took to get Graham reelected, and earlier this year, when Biden teased Graham about his presidential bid, pretending not to swear in Graham during an official ceremony in the Senate.
In addition, The Huffington Post notes both Biden and Graham have been struck by multiple personal tragedies. Biden lost his wife and daughter in a car accident shortly after he was first elected to the Senate, while Graham's parents both died when he was in college, the website notes.
The Huffington Post interview with Graham on the campaign trail in Iowa is part of its series, "'16 And President." The full episode will be released next week.