ABC News’ Nitya Venkataraman Reports: It’s no secret that the loyalties of self-described "Independent Democrat" Joe Lieberman run right to the presumptive Republican nominee in the 2008 presidential race, but on the Thursday morning airwaves the political bro-mance between the Senate colleagues was a two-way street.
McCain called in to a Connecticut morning radio show being hosted by Sen. Lieberman, Ind-Conn., from his Washington office and when asked if he’d "steal" Lieberman from his home state to serve in his administration, McCain responded "Joe Lieberman will lead this nation in many ways."
Continued McCain, "He can pretty much do whatever he wants. Always, my affection for him begins with my respect for him."
The admiration between the Senate colleagues seemed mutual and "love" blossomed bright.
"One of the reasons I love this guy and support him with my whole heart for president he has consistently on Iraq and everything else has done what’s right for the country and not his own political self-interest," Lieberman said.
Lieberman, the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee, praised McCain for his consistency on Iraq, touting him as someone who "never hesitates to reach out across party lines."
"Joe is one of my dearest and closest [friends] and I love him very much," McCain said, adding that he was "grateful for Joe’s friendship and he’s also a lot of fun."
McCain hedged around any conversation surrounding the Republican veepstakes, describing his list as "fairly long" before he changed the subject.
As ABC News’ Jake Tapper reported last week Lieberman’s fealty to "Straight Talk" earned him some tough talk from Senate colleague and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
On June 4, two days after securing his party’s nomination, Obama greeted Lieberman on the Senate floor, led him to the Democratic side where the two engaged in an intense, out-of-earshot conversation sources described as focusing around Lieberman’s support of McCain and the tone of the presidential race.
Watch video of the encounter on the Senate floor HERE.
The next day in his weekly off-camera briefing, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.,described the conversations both he and Obama had with Lieberman as "fruitful" but said he wasn’t "about to threaten anybody" about falling in to line.
Reid also noted that Lieberman’s Independent vote is important for Democrats on just about every issue but the war in Iraq.
Without Lieberman’s vote, the budget would not have passed. Without Lieberman, the budget would not have been written. So I think everybody should understand that Joe Lieberman has made a decision on issues relating to the war. And he’s decided to back John McCain. But Joe Lieberman is an important vote for this caucus," Reid said.
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