Biden debate goal: Accuracy

USATODAY

As the debate focus shifts next week to Joe Biden and Paul Ryan, the vice president says his goal is accuracy about what he calls a shifting Republican record.

"I don't want to say anything in the debate that's not completely accurate," Biden told reporters during his visit to Iowa yesterday.

He added: "I just want to make sure that when I say these things I don't have the congressman (say), 'no, no, no, I don't have that position,' or, 'that's not the governor's position.' So it's mainly getting the factual predicates on ... the key issues."

Biden and Ryan square off on Thursday at Centre College in Danville, Ky.

Many Democrats are looking to Biden to help rally the campaign in the wake of President Obama's poorly reviewed debate performance Wednesday against Republican rival Mitt Romney.

Biden, however, said Obama did well in the face of what he called Romney's changed positions on tax cuts and other issues.

Obama "was presidential," Biden said. "You just don't ever know what game, what positions Gov. Romney's going to come with."

"Last night," Biden added, "we found out (Romney) doesn't have a $5 trillion tax cut. I guess he outsourced that to China or something."

Biden also said that all debates are tough: "Nothing like standing up before 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 million people, you know. ... But I'm looking forward to it, I really am."