Former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani tempered his recent suggestion that Vice President Joseph R. Biden isn’t “bright” but didn’t apologize for it on Sunday, prompting fire from Democrats, who pointed out that Mr. Giuliani endorsed then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the Republican vice-presidential pick four years ago.
Mr. Giuliani questioned last week whether Mr. Biden has the “mental capacity” to be president, after the vice president told a mostly black audience that Republicans are “going to put y’all back in chains” in their efforts to repeal Wall Street regulations.
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While Mr. Giuliani softened the comment on the Sunday-morning talk shows — telling CBS’ “Face the Nation” that he should have questioned Mr. Biden’s “balance” instead of intelligence — he slammed the vice president for making an “absolutely disgusting appeal to racial sentiment.”
“‘Y’all?’” Mr. Giuliani said. “Joe talks like this in Delaware? What about the vice president apologizing for vicious pandering? I’d accept that.”
But Obama Deputy Campaign Manager Stephanie Cutter and Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat, tried to discredit Mr. Giuliani’s remarks by pointing out that at the 2008 Republican National Convention he helped to introduce Mrs. Palin, who since has been disavowed by some leading Republicans.
“You said Sarah Palin was ready to be president of the United States,” Mr. Durbin said. “That speaks for itself.”
