Biden tells NAACP electing Romney would reverse gains made by minorities

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HOUSTON, July 12 (UPI) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Thursday warned in a speech to the NAACP in Houston a Romney presidency would roll back progress made by minorities.

One day after presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney elicited boos from the group with pledges to cut federal spending and repeal healthcare reform, Biden told the nation's oldest civil rights group electing the GOP candidate would be detrimental to the black community.

Echoing a theme President Obama has used, Biden said this election is a battle for the "heart and soul" of America.

"I think Mitt Romney is a fine family man. I believe he's driven by what he believes. But the differences are so basic about how we view the future of America," Biden said.

Biden ticked off a list of things he said Republicans oppose that benefit the middle and working classes, including voting rights and healthcare reform.

"Did you think we'd be fighting these battles again?" Biden asked. "I didn't think we'd be back. I remember working with Republicans -- and by the way, this ain't your father's Republican Party -- on motor-voter, expanding the [voting] franchise. Some of these were Republican ideas. This is not the Republican Party's view today, nor Romney's. They see a different future in which voting is harder than easier."

Biden inspired shouts of "No" from the crowd when he asked them to imagine a Romney Justice Department.

"Imagine who he'd recommend to be the attorney general or head of the civil rights division. Imagine what the Supreme Court will look like after four years of a Romney presidency," Biden urged.

He also listed Obama's accomplishments, saying he succeeded despite Republican obstructionism, The Washington Post reported.