'Dear Friend' Russ Feingold To Be John McCain Pallbearer

WISCONSIN -- Following the passing of U.S. Sen. John McCain on Saturday at the age of 81, he will be buried on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

On that day, former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, will be one of the pallbearers for McCain. Feingold considers McCain a "dear friend" and colleague in the Senate.

In a New York Times Op-Ed article, Feingold wrote warmly of his late friend: "Like so many others, I will greatly miss my friend. We will all be poorer without his leadership. He was a modern-day rough rider, and those of us who knew him well will longingly remember those days when we could join the charge by his side."

Feingold, a Democrat, served in the Senate with McCain from 1993 to 2011.

When Feingold lost his reelection bid for his Wisconsin Senate seat in 2010, McCain had this to say about working alongside his counterpart from the Badger State in a 2011 farewell speech dedicated to Feingold:

"I have treasured that friendship all the years we have served together, and while friendship does not end with a Senate career, I will sorely miss his presence here," McCain said of Feingold. "I will miss seeing him every day. I will miss traveling with him. I will miss the daily reminder of what a blessing it is to have a true friend in Washington."

The "political odd couple" as Feingold called his partnership with McCain is perhaps best known for the McCain-Feingold act of 2002.

The act regulated the financing of political campaigns including attempting to limit the role of "soft money" in campaign financing and the then-growth of electioneering ads.

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