Rhetorically of course. At a stop in in Boston today, Biden hit back on McCain-Palin:

"What really disappoints me is the very tactics used against him, they're trying to use against Barack Obama now," Biden said. "It's literally saddening. I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it. But I guess I should learn to expect everything." ...

"Swiftboating is not going to work this time, and the reason it's not is No. 1, I'm going to smack 'em right square in the chops," Biden said.

Also, at a stop in Nashua, NH, earlier, Biden heaped some praise on Hillary:

"Make no mistake about it Hillary Clinton is as qualified as or more qualified than I am" to be vice president, Biden said. "And quite frankly, she may have been a better pick than me."