Joe Biden Joe BidenThe Memo: Warning signs flash for Trump on debates Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden National postal mail handlers union endorses Biden MORE complimented former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBogeymen of the far left deserve a place in any Biden administration Overnight Defense: Woodward book causes new firestorm | Book says Trump lashed out at generals, told Woodward about secret weapons system | US withdrawing thousands of troops from Iraq A socially and environmentally just way to fight climate change MORE at a rally Monday night after Buttigieg announced his endorsement of the former vice president, telling attendees that the 38-year-old reminds him of his late son, Beau Biden.

With Buttigieg standing beside him, the former Delaware senator said the remark was the "highest compliment" he could give another person. Biden's eldest son — like Buttigieg, a military veteran — died from brain cancer in 2015.

"I don't think I've ever done this before, but he reminds me of my son Beau," Biden said. "That may not mean much to most people, but to me, it's the highest compliment I can give any man or woman."

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"Like Beau, he has a backbone ... like a ramrod," Biden continued.

Joe Biden says Pete Buttigieg "reminds me of my son Beau. That may not mean much to most people, but to me, it's the highest compliment I can give any man or woman." pic.twitter.com/tZ34vqEK2k — MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 3, 2020

Buttigieg conceded his bid for the 2020 Democratic nomination this week after disappointing performances in the Nevada and South Carolina primary contests, although he performed better than Biden in both of the first two states of the primary season, Iowa and New Hampshire.

Fellow former 2020 candidates Sen. Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharEPA delivers win for ethanol industry angered by waivers to refiners It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates Biden marks anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, knocks Trump and McConnell MORE (D-Minn.) and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke Beto O'RourkeJimmy Carter says his son smoked pot with Willie Nelson on White House roof O'Rourke endorses Kennedy for Senate: 'A champion for the values we're most proud of' 2020 Democrats do convention Zoom call MORE (D-Texas) also planned to endorse Biden on Monday evening, a sign that the moderate wing of the party is coalescing around him in the face of the candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll Schumer, Sanders call for Senate panel to address election security MORE (I-Vt.), who leads in the delegate count going in to Super Tuesday.