Sen. Bob Menendez (D., N.J.) showed Wednesday he would be happy to give a boost to the long-rumored presidential campaign of his New Jersey colleague in the Senate, Cory Booker (D.).
At an event to launch his re-election bid, Menendez thanked Booker for being his friend and teammate.
"Cory, we do make a pretty good team," Menendez said. "You have been a remarkable friend and colleague, and I look forward to being at your campaign kickoff for whatever office that’s going to be!"
"Thank you so much," he added.
Booker stood by Menendez as the latter senator faced federal corruption charges last year, and he even gave $20,000 to Menendez's legal expense fund. The jury was unable to reach a verdict, leading the judge to declare a mistrial, and prosecutors ultimately decided not to bring charges again.
Menendez gave an emotional thank-you to Booker after his mistrial in November and endorsed Booker for the country's highest office.
"He is a public servant of unlimited potential, who could just easily serve our country in the highest office of all of the land," Menendez said about Booker.
Booker has not announced his intentions for 2020, but many political analysts have speculated he is a top prospect to earn the Democratic Party’s nomination. The Washington Post ranked Booker fifth on a list of the top Democratic presidential prospects last week.