Vice President Joseph Biden offered an emotional tribute to retiring Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) on Wednesday, praising him for his friendship and his legislative achievements.“Senator Dodd is one of my best friends in life,— Biden said in a statement. “We served together in the Senate for almost 30 years, and to every meeting, every hearing, every floor debate, he brought a keen intellect and a deep understanding of the subject matter on every issue. His knowledge and background in foreign policy are matched by few, and his expertise on matters relating to Latin and South America is respected worldwide. He’s one of the most skilled legislators I’ve ever served with.—Biden went on to say that Dodd will be recognized as “one of the most significant Senators of my generation,— pointing in particular to family medical leave legislation that he championed. Biden said Dodd will continue to be a “source of advice and counsel— to the White House.Biden headlined a fundraiser for Dodd in Connecticut that Dodd did not attend because he was voting on health care reform in the Senate.