Joe Biden calls Sarah Palin 'good-looking'

TOLEDO, Ohio — Vice presidential candidate Joe Biden thought he was fit. Then he stood next to running mate Barack Obama.

‘‘Hanging out with this lean, good-looking guy is making me feel pretty old, you know what I mean?’’ the 65-year-old Biden said to laughter at a forum on the economy on the roof of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. ‘‘I thought I was in pretty good shape until I started hanging out with this guy, you know what I mean?’’

Biden’s self-deprecating humor came during his introduction for 47-year-old Obama at a campaign event about the economy.

He started out talking about the differences between Obama and Republican presidential candidate John McCain, and the differences between himself and Republican vice presidential pick Sarah Palin, Alaska’s governor who is a former beauty pageant contestant.

‘‘Well, there’s obvious differences. She’s good looking,’’ Biden said to laughter.

‘‘You are gorgeous!’’ a woman in the crowd shouted.

Biden chuckled. ‘‘Who said that? Would you say that again for my wife?’’ Biden asked her.

‘‘You are gorgeous!’’ she screamed again.

Biden, grinning wide, had one more request: ‘‘Would you make sure Jill hears that? ... I haven’t heard that in a long, long, long time.’’

After Obama’ remarks, Biden was approached by a woman wanting to talk.

‘‘See? She thinks you’re gorgeous, too,’’ Obama said. ‘‘Jill goes back home and look what happens.’’

Biden, still smiling, simply said: ‘‘This was worth the run.’’

Biden’s wife, Jill Biden, was not in the crowd.