Pasco Obama supporter flubs Biden intro, calls him John McCain

TAMPA -- Jim Piccillo swears he was not a spy planted by the John McCain campaign to sabotage Barack Obama. Yes, he's a registered Republican, but all that phone banking and get-out-the-vote grunt work done on behalf of Mr. "Yes We Can" is for real.

So what made Piccillo, in front of thousands at the USF Sun Dome on Wednesday, introduce Obama's running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, as "John McCain"?

"A brain fart," he said.

"To be honest, I think it was just an everyman kind of moment," said the 34-year-old Land O'Lakes resident, who was watching a Rays playoff game at home Monday night when a party operative called and asked him to warm up the crowd for Biden.

Piccillo, who had been quoted briefly in a New York Times article about his abandoning the GOP, heartily accepted and immediately began working on a speech. The draft was traded back and forth between him and the Obama campaign and was revised "seven or eight times."

On top of page three is a reference to McCain, and Piccillo thinks he must have glanced down at it when it came time to say the senator's name. However, he didn't realize he had named the wrong senator. The crowd cheered, and Biden stepped onstage without missing a beat. It wasn't until he was driving home that they learned about the flub, played on WFUS-FM, 103.5. "We thought it was a joke, that they'd spliced it in," said Piccillo's fiancee, Sandi Keeble.

Then the reporters started calling. No, Piccillo told them, he didn't get paid by the McCain campaign. He just messed up. "This is the biggest foot I've ever had in my mouth," he said.

Student: Shaking Biden's hand was 'amazing'

TAMPA -- Dan Nguyen came to the Joe Biden speech this morning prepared.

In addition to wearing his Barack Obama T-shirt and toting a campaign sign, the 19-year-old USF student decorated his baseball cap. In white paint on the black fabric, he drew a remarkably accurate depiction of the senator from Illinois.

Nguyen said Biden's speech inspired him, and he'd work hard to get more people to the polls Nov. 4. But the most inspiring part of all? "I shook his hand," Nguyen said. "It was amazing."

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden shakes hands with people in the crowd after his speech at the USF Sun Dome. (Michael C. Weimar, Times)

Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden stops for a quick photograph with people in the crowd after his speech. (Michael C. Weimar, Times)

Speech ends with Stevie Wonder

TAMPA -- After a hollered promise that he and Barack Obama could restore America to its full potential, Joe Biden entered the crowd.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered, by Stevie Wonder, blared over the speakers as attendees rushed to the front row to shake Biden's hand. And then, just as loud, Only in America, by Brooks & Dunn.

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

Photo by Michael C. Weimar | Times

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Biden: Money should be spent at home

(MICHAEL C. WEIMAR | Times)

TAMPA -- Joe Biden said under President George W. Bush, too much of Americans' money is going overseas, citing billions spent on the war in Iraq.

Under Obama, he said, money would be spent on programs at home to help the middle class. He highlighted Obama's plan to fund college tuition in exchange for public service, saying funding the program would be possible even during the financial crisis.

The plan would provide $4,000 for students who perform community service or participate in programs like the Peace Corps.

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

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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

Biden criticizes McCain TV ads

TAMPA -- Without mentioning her name, Joe Biden said Sarah Palin's recent attacks against Barack Obama's character are unacceptable.

Biden said the McCain campaign hopes to distract voters from the economic crisis with low blows and smears, citing a statistic that said 100 percent of McCain's recent ads were negative.

"They're gonna try to take the low road, take the low road to the highest road in the land," Biden said. "Those attacks don't hurt Barack Obama or me, they hurt you."

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

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Biden takes the stage

TAMPA -- Just before 11:30 a.m. and to an outburst of cheers, Joe Biden took to the podium at the USF Sun Dome.

Biden thanked event organizers and said it was the fault of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Florida) that he was Obama's V.P. pick. Nelson had thrown support to Sen. Hilary Clinton earlier in the race, and Biden said he had "beaten up" Obama so much, that Obama said, "Okay, okay, I'll pick Joe Biden," a friend of Nelson's.

At the mention of Biden's recent debate against Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the crowd went wild, banging the floors and screaming. Biden also applauded Obama's performance in last night's debate against John McCain.

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

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Rehab counselor says health care needs to change

TAMPA -- They come from the war, beaten and bruised. Sometimes they're insured, a lot of times not. But Karen Sinnreich says she helps them all. The 61-year-old rehabilitation counselor said Obama's policies on health care would make that easier.

"To me, it's a very clear choice," Sinnreich said at this morning's Joe Biden rally.

She said getting out of Iraq would mean fewer young men and women coming to her with serious health problems, which would mean less of a strain on the whole economy. Many of the people she sees don't have adequate insurance -- another issue that leads her to support Obama, who says he would expand coverage with government funding.

"We have an obligation," Sinnreich said. "We have to give them support."

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

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Former Bush Sr. voter says he'll choose Obama

TAMPA -- When 71-year-old Jay Thabaraj voted for George H.W. Bush a couple decades ago, he made his choice based on experience. Thabaraj said Bush's experience with foreign policy made that pick easy. But now his views have changed, leading him to Obama's side of things.

"Experience alone doesn't really matter," Thabaraj said while waiting for Joe Biden to speak at the rally Wednesday. "Our country should change. We need better judgment."

Thabaraj said he's been "so disappointed" with George W. Bush's decisions about Iraq and he worries that McCain will follow the same policies. "We need a peaceful approach," he said.

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

AP photo of Biden arriving at Tampa International Airport

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Inside, still waiting on speech; outside, a confrontation

TAMPA -- As spectators inside the Sun Dome waited for Joe Biden's speech to begin, about a dozen McCain supporters outside were met with opposition.

"I think these people are so uneducated that they are a threat to the country," screamed a woman who refused to be named because she said her husband disapproves of her political views. She was pointing toward the group of about a dozen people holding John McCain signs silently outside the Sun Dome. The woman said she didn't support any one candidate -- she simply supports America.

The group was mostly made of USF students who wanted to establish a presence at the event, said 20-year-old Charles Sherrard, a political science major who's also part of the College Republicans. "It's a very liberal campus," Sherrard said. "But there are conservatives. We want to show that."

Sherrard said he supports McCain because he's a strong believer in fiscal conservatism -- low taxes, low goverment spending and involvement and strong capitalism.

"All I'm saying here is, look, there are kids here who don't agree with Obama," Sherrard said. "This is the kind of stuff that divides us," he added, nodding toward the woman still screaming threats at the group.

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

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Rally begins with prayer, pledge

TAMPA -- Under a giant American flag and big blue banner proclaiming, "CHANGE," the Joe Biden rally began with a Christian prayer asking for peace, leadership and forgiveness for transgressions.

The Pledge of Allegiance and an introduction from organizer Ryan Metcalf followed. Metcalf called for those at the rally to join the campaign as volunteers to help put up signs, hand out bumper stickers and get people to the polls. His call was punctuated with applause from the thousands seated in the Sun Dome.

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

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Kids' campaign rhetoric not much different from adults'

TAMPA -- "I called him John McLoser," said 8-year-old Maniya Williams while in line for the Joe Biden rally in a near whisper.

Williams and her cousin, 11-year-old Catera Denson, said they watch the candidates on TV, and they've made their pick.

Though they had no particular issues in mind and didn't know much about Obama's veep choice, whom they were waiting to hear, the girls said they wish they were a decade or so older so they could vote for Obama.

"He'll change anything," Williams said. Denson added, "He's gonna help us."

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

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Come out of retirement? No biggie, says one Obama-Biden supporter

TAMPA -- Tampa resident Joseph Flata says he never planned to come out of retirement. At 65, he said he expected to be financially secure and able to relax. But the recent economic crisis might change things, and under Obama's plans, Flata said he's okay with that.

"It'll never recover," Flata said of the economy while waiting outside the Joe Biden rally. "And Obama has a plan to create new jobs in energy."

Flata said he could see himself starting up a solar panel or wind energy business. He likes the encouragement and incentives Obama says he'll provide to such businesses, and he's afraid of continued dependence on foreign oil.

"We're like junkies," Flata said of Americans' oil addiction. "And the Republicans are totally on the wrong track."

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

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Longtime Biden supporter happy he's back

TAMPA -- As she made her way into the Sun Dome at about 9:30 this morning, Laura Whiteside said she was here to see her original pick for president.

"I felt like Biden dropped out of the (presidential) race too early," said Whiteside, 53, of Tampa. "But I'm happy he's back."

It doesn't bother her that Biden's the No. 2 man on the ticket. Obama's message suits her just fine, she said.

"I think he'll bring that hope and change," Whiteside said. "We need change."

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

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Excitement outside Sun Dome

People began lining up before sunrise to hear Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden speak Wednesday at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa. [Michael C. Weimar, Times]

TAMPA -- Next to a noticeably empty protest zone, Barack Obama and Joe Biden supporters talked health care, education and -- what else -- the economy. The resounding sentiment? Change is coming. But most of the chatter was about Obama rather than the set-to-speak vice presidential candidate.

"I'm excited to hear some answers," said Kerianne Beckford, a 20-year-old USF student with a homemade Obama T-shirt. "I'm ready."

William Turnbull, 58, a registered Rebublican, said he has shifted camps for the election this year. He waited with thousands of others.  [Michael C. Weimar, Times]

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Gates open at Joe Biden rally

The gates have reportedly opened at the Sun Dome at the University of South Florida in Tampa, and ticket holders are being allowed into the building in preparation for this morning's rally with Joe Biden.

Biden is expected to use the event to discuss the country's economic situation. He will host another rally in Fort Myers on the same topic later today.

Ken Walker, Times staff writer

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