Vice President Joe Biden spoke at the NAACP annual convention Thursday, defending President Barack Obama’s record and warning that the election of Mitt Romney could reverse years of economic and civil rights gains for African-Americans, Reuters reported.

Biden noted he was a “lifetime member” of the civil rights group, the Associated Press reported.

“I think Mitt Romney is a fine family man, driven by what he believes, but the differences are so basic about how we view the future of America,” Biden said.

According to Reuters, Biden asked the crowd in Houston, Texas, to imagine what a Romney presidency would mean for the Justice Department, Supreme Court and voting rights. He said Obama made tough decisions with his economic stimulus package and auto industry bailout that pulled the economy out of recession. 

From Reuters:

He condemned Republican support for voter ID laws that critics say will disenfranchise many black voters.

"Did you think we'd be fighting these battles again?" he asked the crowd, which roared "No!" in reply. "When you have the right to vote, you have the right to change things."

Biden drew applause at the convention, a day after Romney was booed for criticizing Obama’s health care plan and leadership concerning the economy. The vice president spoke in place of Obama, who will address the National Urban League later this month.

Obama addressed the NAACP in a taped video message, the AP reported, saying “I stand on your shoulders” in seeking a second term. 

 

Read more of Neon Tommy’s coverage of the 2012 election here.

Reach Executive Producer Agnus Dei Farrant here.