More than 2,000 turn out for Biden campaign stop
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Vice President Joe Biden tops off a two-day campaign tour in the sunshine state right here in Fort Myers. Video by fox4now.com
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FORT MYERS, Fla. -Both campaigns have their sights set on Florida, a must-win state. So much so that Vice President Joe Biden came right out of the gate attacking Mitt Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan. And Biden definitely played up what he's known for.
"I have a bad reputation of being straight," began Biden.
With a quip, Biden began his stump speech at Wa-Ke Hatchee Park before some feisty supporters.
"Governor Romney has made it official he's picked Paul Ryan," said Biden. "They're both good family men and they're both... (crowd boos) "No no, I don't need your boos, I need your help."
He explained why he's against Romney's plans to cut taxes and save Medicare.
"They don't tell you what they would do about Medicare," added Biden.
And he mocked Republicans for not taking responsibility for the financial crisis.
"They talk about this great recession and acknowledge [it] as if it fell from the sky," said Biden.
But Lee County is heavily conservative and working class. Perhaps a reason Biden tried casting Romney as out-of-touch.
"What's even more amazing, I watched their convention, is they discovered the middle class," laughed Biden. "My God there's a middle class, there it is," he continued.
But that's of little concern to Charles Ivory and his girlfriend. Ivory's a Desert Storm veteran who credits Obama with helping him pay for school.
"Have any decisions they've made over the last four years directly impacted you?" asked Fox 4 reporter Gabrielle Sarann. "I'm in school right now getting a double major in criminal justice and history," replied Ivory.
"I wish that in our country, they could afford their medication," said Clare Caldwell, of Fort Myers, who wishes her 84-year-old mother could afford her high blood pressure medication. She's upset neither campaign is doing anything to make drug imports a stop gag measure.
"They would have to make the choice between their mortgage payment or medication, it's not an option for them," said Caldwell.
And Biden will have another chance at winning voters in North Carolina on Tuesday. His next stops are Charlotte and Asheville.
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