GROSS: Giffords' Return Prompts Biden-Bachmann Hug!

Gabrielle Giffords' triumphant return to Congress was a rare moment of bipartisan joy—and it even brought Joe Biden a little warm-fuzzy time with fierce Obama critic and 2012 contender Michele Bachmann, reports the Washington Post. “Here I’m hugging Gabby and Michele Bachmann,” Biden recounted to reporters last night. “Seriously! I’m being literal!” “You hugged Michele Bachmann?” asked a skeptical reporter.

“Sure!” Biden responded. “I like Michele Bachmann. For real." What did he say to her? “I said, ‘Great to see you, Michele.’” Bachmann "cares about" Giffords, Biden added. "I mean, look. The thing that sometimes gets lost in this place—maybe I spent too much time here as a senator—there is a basic humanity here, man. It matters between people. I know that sounds corny.” Biden, who has two craniotomies under his belt, says he joked with Giffords about them both being "members of the cracked-head club.” Ba-dum-dum.