Photo by Erik Campos/The State

Ford sees Sheheen as one of the Legislature's dynamic new leaders, bringing to the Senate floor each day a sharp legal mind able to navigate complicated issues from the Bill of Rights to tort reform.

A lifelong bachelor, Ford also greatly respects Sheheen for his family-centered personal life - he's married with three young sons - along with at least one other skill set important to Ford:

"He likes to bring people together. He likes to work with people, both Democrats and Republicans, and he has strong family beliefs."

At the end of a harried day at the General Assembly, Ford said, don't expect to find Sheheen "rubbing shoulders with the lobbyists" at any of the many evening receptions available to lawmakers. "Vince doesn't do that. I don't do it either, but Vince doesn't do it at all.

"He goes straight home to his family," Ford said.