I like that term you came up with: elevator relationships. So true. You are correct, of course.
I have heard other FNC anchors speak well of rabid liberals. They usually do the "she/he is a nice person" statement. I'd rather they not give their personal opinions because the political character of the individuals usually reveals something far different. We don't vote for someone simply because they appear to be a "nice person".
Nice may be the most over used term in the language, after unique. Very few liberals described as “nice” really are. They may be “pleasant” or “phony” but they are not nice.