Biden tells NAACP Obama stands by his convictions

HOUSTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden rallied support for President Barack Obama before the nation's largest civil rights organization today, declaring that Republican challenger Mitt Romney's election-year agenda would hurt — not help — working families in the black community.

Biden drew cheers as he credited Obama for championing a landmark health care law, launching the mission that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and stepping in to rescue the financial system and U.S. automakers General Motors and Chrysler.

"He has put country first," Biden said.

Biden addressed the NAACP convention a day after Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said he'd do more for African-Americans than Obama, the nation's first black president. Romney was booed when he said he'd repeal Obama's sweeping health care reform law but otherwise got a polite reception as he reached out to a traditionally Democratic voting bloc.

The vice president never specifically cited Romney's argument that he could serve blacks better than Obama, choosing instead to dissect Romney's policy proposals and make the case that the Republican's agenda would hurt black families.

Biden outlined differences between Obama and Romney on health care, education, energy, women's rights and research, saying the two rivals had "fundamentally different visions."