Biden lashes Mitt Romney over economy

2011-12-23 21:03

Washington - US Vice President Joe Biden issued a blistering critique of Republican candidate Mitt Romney and his economic policies on Friday, staking out clear ideological battle lines for November's election.

Writing in the Des Moines Register, Biden sought to cast the election as a clash between his side, which wants a "fair shake" for the middle class, and the other which is happy with failed trickle-down economics.

"The president and I believe this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, when everyone does their fair share, and when everyone plays by the same rules," Biden wrote.

"Romney appears satisfied to settle for an economy in which fewer people succeed, while the majority of Americans are left to tread water or fall behind."

"His proposal would actually double down on the policies that caused the greatest economic calamity since the Great Depression and accelerated a decades-long assault on the middle class."

Romney recently accused US President Barack Obama of creating a big-government "entitlement society", in contrast to his vision of an "opportunity society" free of government interference.

Biden's rebuke, in a letter to readers of the Iowa newspaper, comes as Republican candidates swarm the battleground Mid-Western state.

On January 3, Iowans will cast the first votes to elect the Republican candidate who will run against Obama in November 2012.

Although Romney has struggled to cement his place at the top of the Republican polls - facing wave after wave of challengers - Democrats have for months treated Romney as the presumptive nominee.

Biden's words are merely the latest and most high-profile example of a torrent of Democratic attacks against Romney which intertwine opposition to Republican economic policies with criticism of his past role as a venture capitalist.

- AFP