(Newser)
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Today's political tempest revolves around comments from Joe Biden. Speaking to supporters in Virginia, the VP blasted Mitt Romney as per usual, but his choice of words raised eyebrows given that African-Americans were in heavy attendance, reports CNN.
- The comment: Romney "is going to let the big banks once again write their own rules, unchain Wall Street," said Biden. "He is going to put y'all back in chains."
The Romney campaign called it a "new low," while the Obama camp said the comment had nothing to do with race. Biden has long spoken of "unshackling" the middle class, and the comments were a play off that, said campaign official Stephanie Cutter. Politico rounds up some oh-no-it-wasn't reaction from the right, including a tweet from former Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer: “The press pounded Palin when she talked about ‘blood libel’. What will they do about Biden’s ‘chains’ remark?” At the Washington Post, Jonathan Capehart said the "chains" comment was indeed "wince-worthy," but given the GOP's track record on offensive comments, "the high dudgeon of the Romney campaign is rather precious."
- Wrong state: Near the end of his speech, the AP notes that Biden made a more clear-cut gaffe when he exhorted the Virginia crowd to help win ... North Carolina.
