Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden shared an awkward hug this morning as they greeted each other at the Scranton airport.

'Hello my dear,' she said as he walked off his plane. They locked in a friendly embrace, Clinton laughing for a moment, before she tried to wriggle free.

Not picking up on her cues - repeated pats on the arm - Biden continued to hold her by the waist. The VP finally let Clinton go and they walked to his limo, entering from opposite sides.

The two were campaigning together today in Biden's childhood hometown.

Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden shared an awkward hug this morning as they greeted each other at the Scranton airport

'Hello my dear,' she said as he walked off his plane. They locked in a friendly embrace, Clinton laughing for a momenr

Then she tried to wriggle free, but he wouldn't let the former secretary of state go

Not picking up on her cues - repeated pats on the arm - Biden continued to hold her by the waist

Clinton lavished praised on her former colleague in the U.S. Senate as she opened their joint rally, telling the vice president that he is beloved there and everywhere in America.

It's not the first time that Biden has attracted attention for the way he acts around women.

The vice president made the headlines in February last year after he whispered in the ear of Stephanie Carter, wife of then-newly appointed defense secretary Ash Carter.

The VP attracted attention after photos circulated of him whispering in the ear of Stephanie Carter, wife of defense secretary Ash Carter, last year

Biden strikes again: he's been pictured in close contact with Hillary before at a ceremony in 2009, and previously with Irish President Mary McAleese in 2000

Biden wraps an arm around the waist of Eva Longoria in 2014

That incident led some to call him 'handsy Joe'.

He's also cosied up to Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria and Irish President Mary McAleese.

Clinton nearly slipped off the stage Monday afternoon as she moved away from the podium at the conclusion of her speech, but Biden was beside her and he grabbed her arm, breaking her fall.

The VP said as he took the microphone, 'It's good to be home.'

Scranton 'is made up of so many people with grit and courage,' he said. 'I mean this sincerely, from the bottom of my heart – with grit, courage, determination, who never, never, ever give up.'

Residents of the Pennsylvania city 'deserve someone who not only understands them; they deserve someone who is with them,' Biden told the crowd. 'And they deserve someone who’s made of the same stuff. That’s Hillary Clinton.

'That’s who she is. It’s good to be home with so many friends.'

The 69-year-old politician later took Clinton with him to his childhood house on North Washington street in Scranton.

'This is where I grew up,' Biden told her. 'At the top of Fisk Street.'

She asked him if he ever went sledding down it, and he replied, 'A lot of times.'

They toured the inside of the house, where Biden told her more stories from his youth, and then came back outside for more photos together.

Biden kissed her forehead and they went their separate ways, him to Washington where he was leaving from on Monday evening for foreign travel, her to a fundraiser in Connecticut.

Scranton has special significant for both Democrats - Clinton's father Hugh Rodham also grew up in the Pennsylvania town.

The former first lady often makes reference to the summers she spent in Scranton visiting her grandfather, who worked in a lace mill here, and she told supporters today that was also christened at a church in town.

Biden received a hero's welcome today as he campaigned in his childhood hometown for Clinton

Scranton has special significant for both Democrats - Clinton's father Hugh Rodham also grew up in the Pennsylvania town

The vice president said in his remarks that Clinton is misunderstood. 'It may be the difference between the Irish Catholic and the Methodist piece here - we wear everything on our sleeve'

A crowd of people gave them both a warm welcome today as they arrived at Riverfront Sports in Scranton for an afternoon rally.

Speaking first, Clinton said of Biden, 'no matter how far he travels he never forgets where he's from' and said 'wherever he goes he's always the same guy - a fighter for towns who need a champion like Scranton.'

'As many of you know, his wonderful son Beau – a great father, a great public servant, a great human being – passed away last year, so this is personal to Joe Biden.'

She said, 'He knows it's personal to a lot of families, that's why he's fighting so hard to make a difference, and if I'm elected this fall I'm going to ask Joe to continue the important work he's begun to help us fight and defeat cancer.'

Clinton complimented the VP and 'his wonderful wife Jill on having raised their children and grandchildren 'with those same values.'

'So Joe, I hope you know how much, not just Scranton, but America, loves you and your family,' she said, to wild applause from the audience.

It was their second try at the endorsement event. The first time around it was cancelled hours beforehand after gunshots rained down on a group of Texas law enforcement officers policing a black lives matter protest, killing five.

After the campaign rally, Biden took Hillary Clinton to his Scranton, Pennsylvania childhood home

The vice president said in his remarks that Clinton is the best candidate to protect the country and bring economic prosperity to the middle class.

She understands the challenges facing the people in the kind of neighborhoods he and wife Jill grew up in, Biden said.

'If you worry about your job, getting decent pay, if you worry about your children's education, if you'r taking care of an elderly parent after losing the other one, then there's only one person in this election who will possibly help you and that is Hillary Clinton,' he declared.

The retiring politician said Clinton, one of his 2008 rivals for the Democratic nomination for the presidency, 'understands the hopes and the aspirations' of Americans in towns like Scranton and Claymont, Delaware, the town his family moved to when his father fell on hard times during Biden's childhood.

'I trust the people where the feeling starts in their gut, moves to their heart and then is articulated by a great mind,' Biden said of Clinton.

The Democrats have known each other for 30 years.

'Everybody has known from day one how smart, how bright, Hillary is,' he said of her today. 'Everybody knows how tough she is.

'But what I don't think everybody knows enough about - it may be the difference between the Irish Catholic and the Methodist piece here - we wear everything on our sleeve. I don't think they fully understand how passionate she is about what she does. '

The Democrats have known each other for 30 years. Biden played up the historic nature of her candidacy today

Biden played up the historic nature of her candidacy as well with one of his trademark audience interactions.

'She understands what it means for these beautiful young girls – and I'm being serious now – these three beautiful little girls I'm looking at now,' Biden said, motioning to a trio of women in the audience. 'What it will mean to them when it's President Hillary Rodham Clinton.'