Biden goes on attack in Florida

TAMPA, Fla. - Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden called Republican John McCain an angry man making ugly attacks against the Democratic ticket to cover up his support for President Bush.

"You can't call yourself a maverick when all you've ever been is a sidekick," Biden said yesterday of McCain. He credited Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey with first using the line.

Biden's attacks came during an appearance at the University of South Florida, in the heart of the Tampa Bay area, where the two tickets are in a tight race.

Thousands waited in a line that wrapped along the Sun Dome basketball arena for a chance to hear Barack Obama's running mate.

Biden spokesman David Wade said Biden would continue this aggressive stance as Obama's "defender in chief" through Election Day, Nov. 4.

Later, at a $300,000 fundraiser in Naples, Fla., Biden told donors that he and Obama were fighting back against every attack. "Barack and I, we're not going to lie down and turn the other cheek. I'm sick of getting pushed around," he said to big cheers from the contributors, who had given $1,000 apiece or $10,000 for a photo with Biden.

Biden argued that he and Obama have won all three debates so far. He said Tuesday night's town-hall debate between Obama and McCain, during which voters asked most of the questions, showed "what a majority of American people are looking for - a steady hand, leadership, an optimist; not an angry man, lurching from one position to another."

Biden also ridiculed McCain running-mate Sarah Palin for her attacks on Obama. "Last week I had a debate, I think it was a debate, with Governor Palin," Biden said.

McCain's campaign responded by saying that Obama and Biden lack a record of change or reform, and have no credibility to call for either.

"During their combined 39 years in the U.S. Senate, Barack Obama nor his running mate have ever challenged their own party.

"Their run-with-the-herd mentality, radical associations and partisan proposals have made them the most liberal ticket in political history," said McCain spokesman Ben Porritt.

Earlier, during an interview on CBS' "The Early Show," Biden said Palin's criticism of Obama as friends with terrorists "just malarkey." *