Political partisanship has been put aside as word spreads that Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy is suffering from a malignant brain tumor.

West Virginia Democrat Senator Robert Byrd, the nation's longest serving Senator, broke down on the Senate floor saying simply, "Thank God for Ted."

Hillary Rodham Clinton says "Ted Kennedy's courage and resolve are unmatched, and they made him one of the greatest legislators in Senate history."

Barack Obama says Kennedy is not just a great senator, "he is a great friend." Likely Republican presidential nominee John McCain says his "thoughts and prayers go out to Senator Kennedy and his family." He describes Kennedy as "the single most effective member of the Senate."

President Bush, in a statement, says Kennedy has "tremendous courage, remarkable strength, and powerful spirit." He adds that he will be praying for a full recovery.