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DES MOINES, IA. (AP) -- DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Vice President Joe Biden says the Senate has handed President Barack Obama a big victory on health care that will be a political boost to the Democrats.

Biden made his comments Saturday at the Iowa Democratic Party's largest fundraiser, the Jefferson Jackson Dinner. He sought to rally the party's base, pointing to the Senate's vote to start debate on a sweeping health care overhauls as just the latest sign of progress.

Biden argued that as issues such as health begin to take shape, Democrats will reap political gain. Republicans have cast the health care bill as a costly government takeover, built on budget gimmicks.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)