Economy takes precedence in Biden's speech

TAMPA -- Not surprisingly, the economy and its recent downturn is front-and-center in Joe Biden's speech.

Biden said the recent financial crisis has wiped out $2-trillion from retirement funds, and Florida is second in the nation for home foreclosures. He said McCain's tax plan to give tax breaks to big companies would harm the economy further, while Obama and Biden's plan to give tax breaks to those who make less than $250,000 a year would help.

Biden said he and Obama plan to focus their policies toward creating and keeping jobs. He said investing $15-billion over the next 10 years in renewable sources of energy would create new jobs and that Obama's tax plan would give help to those who need it most.

"Health care, tax cuts, and energy policies all focus on one thing," Biden yelled, as the crowd whooped and clapped. "Jobs, jobs, jobs."

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer