Biden chides McCain for 'maverick' title

GREENVILLE, N.C., Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden Monday said returning Republicans to the White House would devastate the U.S. middle class.

Speaking at a rally in Greenville, N.C., Biden said electing Republican John McCain as the next president would guarantee continuation of the Bush administration's policies of the last eight years.

Biden also chided McCain for portraying himself as a maverick in Washington politics.

"You can't call yourself a maverick if all you've been the last eight years is a sidekick," Biden said.

A vote for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, Biden said, would be a vote for restoring America's respect in the world and a vote of respect for the nation's middle class.

"It's literally straight forward and simple," Biden told cheering supporters.