COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden says that only Republican John McCain would think that Missouri is enjoying good economic times.

During town-hall forums in Columbia and St. Louis County today, Biden said he could walk all the way to Springfield and not find anyone who thought the economy was healthy unless he ran into McCain.

Biden said he and Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama understand that there's great anxiety about the U.S. economy, "but unfortunately, John McCain doesn't understand."

A swing state in the presidential election, Missouri is suffering through its highest unemployment rate in 17 years, 6.4 percent in July.
___
On the Net:
Obama campaign: http://www.barackobama.com/index.php
McCain campaign: http://www.johnmccain.com/

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)