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WORLD> America
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Long-time pals Biden and McCain now spirited foes
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-13 15:04 Since the day he was chosen as Obama's running mate, Biden has routinely prefaced criticism of McCain, on matters from the Iraq war to the US economy, by referring to him as "my friend, John." But last week, Biden ripped into McCain without referring to any friendship they may have or once had.
"What you are seeing is an angry man," Biden said of McCain while campaigning in Florida. With opinion polls showing Obama and Biden opening a solid lead, Biden accused McCain of attempting to divert attention from the ailing economy and his long support of unpopular President George W. Bush with personal attacks against Obama. "I guess when you vote with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, your best hope is to attack your opponent 100 percent of the time," Biden said. McCain has generally ignored Biden, aiming his fire at Obama. Just hours after Obama announced his selection of Biden as his running mate, McCain released an ad that quoted Biden as saying in 2005, "I'd be honored to run with or against John McCain because I think the country would be better off." McCain also ran an ad shortly before Biden's debate with Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Entitled "Embarrass," the spot centered on Biden's history of gaffes. McCain has questioned Obama's relationship with Bill Ayers, a former violent anti-Vietnam war activist who's now a college professor and served with Obama on an anti-poverty board. Citing the bombing of federal buildings in the 1970s by Ayers' group, the Weathermen, Palin this month accused Obama of "palling around with terrorists," and McCain asked, "Who is the real Barack Obama?" Biden, who in the past saluted McCain as a war hero, now seems to challenge his manhood. He dared McCain last week to ask Obama such a question to his face. "In my neighborhood where I came from if you got something to say to a man, look him in the eye and say it," Biden said. |
