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CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The talk-show host and comedian Dennis Miller brought his stand-up routine to the campaign trail on Wednesday, warming up a large outdoor crowd here for the Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

He started by taking a page from The Onion, the satirical newspaper and Web site that has made a small franchise out of having fun at the expense of the vice president.

“I was just backstage in the holding room and had the worst cup of coffee I’ve ever had in my life,” Mr. Miller said. “I said to the lady: ‘What’s with this coffee? It’s so old and bitter.’ ”

“She said, ‘That’s just Joe being Joe,’ ” Mr. Miller said.

He added: “Biden never shuts up. It’s just occasionally, you have to hood him like a falcon — so you can get some sleep.”

Mr. Miller, a Romney supporter, also used a line to suggest that moderates who voted for President Obama four years ago shouldn’t feel that ashamed to go the other way and vote Republican this time. It can happen to anyone, he suggested.

“I have friends who talk about voting for Obama in much the same way they tell me the story about how they took an Ambien and woke up naked outside,” Mr. Miller said.

Mr. Romney liked the warm-up. “Gosh, this guy, he’s got talent, he’s got humor,” he told the crowd.