CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Both West Virginia U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito speak favorably of their relationship with U.S. Senator John McCain who died over the weekend at age 82.
Capito said she first got to meet McCain when he campaigned for her in a U.S. House race in 2000. She said that was the start for a solid friendship.
“He was a patriot. A really courageous person who had a lot of wit, a biting wit sometimes, who was very firm in his convictions,” Capito said Monday during an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline.”
Capito said McCain was a sailor and sometimes he talked like one.
“I would say he got a little salty,” she said. “He would use it for humor but he would also use it to jam it when he wanted to. He was really an interesting guy.”
Manchin said he had a run-in with McCain on the Senate floor once, catching the wrath of McCain for a vote he had taken. He said McCain later apologized.
“He was my dear friend from that day on,” Manchin said on “Talkline” Monday.”I think he appreciated it that I held my position. I was going to go to blows if he wanted to go to blows but he knew I felt as strong about my state as he did about his.”
Manchin said no one ran a committee like McCain, who gave all sides an opportunity to offer amendments and back them up with documentation.
“You can make your point and vote up or down. That’s what’s still missing in the Senate,” Manchin said.
Capito said McCain was passionate about the military and support for the military.
“He invited me to go on a trip and one of my greatest regrets is I was unable to do it. I won’t have that chance now,” Capito said.
Gov. Jim Justice ordered American and state flags at state-owned facilities to be at half-staff through McCain’s burial scheduled for the coming weekend.