Vice President Joe Biden rallied with Democrats in Iowa Thursday, telling a crowd in Fort Dodge he had just talked by phone with President Obama.

“He sent his love and affection,” Biden said. “He knows he’s president of the United States because of the state of Iowa — and why he’s going to be re-elected president of the United States of America.”

Biden dedicated a portion of his speech to praising the bipartisan cooperation being shown among leaders on the east coast as the area struggles to recover from Hurricane Sandy. But Biden pivoted to attack Republican Mitt Romney, suggesting Romney “will say anything to win.”

“President Obama has the character of his convictions,” Biden said. “He does not engage and never has engaged in deception. He does not mislead. He says what he means and he means what he says and no one can say the same of Governor Romney.”

Biden used the word “malarkey” to describe some of Romney’s recent statements. 

“In the last hours of this campaign, Romney and Ryan have become truly desperate,” Biden said.

Both Romney and Obama will campaign in Dubuque on Saturday — and both candidates will return to Iowa on Monday for events in Des Moines. GOP Vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan will campaign in Cedar Falls this afternoon.

(Reporting by Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City)