4 Political Odd Couples Show We Can All Get Along

Things are getting heated between the two political parties, with the presidential race well on its way. Not that things are usually very pleasant when the Democrats and Republicans have to work together on any level. But things tend to get particularly nasty when the presidency is up for grabs. Each side is hot to have the White House for at least four years.

But beneath the zingers from Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, there are some politicians or political figures who have found unlikely best friends (or even spouses) in their competing party. Some of these sweet political odd couples show that friendship conquers all. Or maybe it's just that the two parties are more alike than we sometimes care to admit ...

There's something really fun about political odd couples. Maybe it's that we're collectively curious about how they get along so well on a social and personal level when their political beliefs and values are very different, or even contradictory. Or we want to believe there's some sort of kooky conspiracy in which these red/blue buddies share party secrets. But it could be as simple as that it's nice to see people in Washington getting along for a change, even if it doesn't always translate to policy-making. Here are some of the best and most unexpected pairs of political friends. They'll make you want to hug a buddy from the other side of the political spectrum.

Chelsea Clinton And Ivanka Trump

The daughters of current political rivals Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are apparently the closest of gal pals. Chelsea Clinton and Ivanka Trump are close friends, despite the current battle of words being very publicly exchanged between their presidential hopeful parents. In February, Clinton told Vogue how much she admires Trump, saying, "She’s always aware of everyone around her and ensuring that everyone is enjoying the moment. It’s an awareness that in some ways reminds me of my dad, and his ability to increase the joy of the room. There’s nothing skin-deep about Ivanka." It's high praise for one Clinton to compare someone to another Clinton!

Rand Paul And Corey Booker

Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul has buddied up with a Democrat favorite, New Jersey Sen. Corey Booker, to get legislative work done in the past. Paul and Booker took some cozy snapshots together over the summer of 2014, when they were working on the REDEEM Act together. The legislation was intended to benefit both adult and minor convicted criminals who had served their sentences. CNN reported that the pair bonded over a shared love of the Seinfeld-created holiday Festivus. Definitely not a duo you'd expect to see working together in Washington, and certainly not hanging out watching syndicated Seinfeld episodes together. But Festivus miracles can happen every once in a while.

Bill Clinton And George W. Bush

A political odd couple for the ages: Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush became very close in the years following Bush's second term. The two have remained friends throughout the current presidential election, which involves Clinton's wife and Bush's younger brother. Clinton and Bush are in no way shy about their closeness, and often show affection for one another in the form of charming arm touches, admiring smiles, and casual faux shoulder punches. While the two differed significantly in their politics during their respective presidencies, Friendship seems to be the only party Clinton and Bush belong to these days.

James Carville And Mary Matalin

James Carville and Mary Matalin are perhaps the classic American political odd couple. Carville, a former Democratic political adviser and current media commentator, and Matalin, a Republican political consultant who also frequently appears on television, have been married for over 20 years. The couple got together just before the two of them both became involved in the 1992 presidential campaign — Carville working for Clinton, and Matalin working for Bush. Even though they have careers in conflict, the couple has always insisted that their marriage is happy. They told CBS in 2014 that the subject of most of their arguments is "the air conditioning in the house."