DES MOINES - Vice President Joe Biden took on critics of the Obama administration in a forceful speech to Democratic activists in Des Moines on Saturday.

Appearing at a fundraising dinner for Iowa Democratic Party, Biden pointed to the economic challenges he and President Barack Obama faced when they were sworn into office 10 months ago.

"I, like all of you, hear the pundits on all the talk shows raising doubts about whether or not we can turn this great nation around," Biden said.

Biden had a simple message for Democrats who have supported President Obama: stick with him.

"I can tell you with absolute certainty, his resolve has never wavered one instant, and neither should yours," Biden said.

That was the theme of the evening at a dinner attended by close to 1,500 at Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines.

Democratic elected officials stressed the need to continue to push health care reforms after the legislation cleared a crucial hurdle in the U.S. Senate on Saturday.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley of Waterloo rallied Democrats to fight against what he called a campaign of fear by Republicans.

"We've heard a campaign of lies, and a campaign of fear and now is the time for Democrats in Iowa and all over this country to stand up and speak truth to fear," Braley said.

The annual dinner is one of the biggest gatherings each year of Iowa Democrats, and new candidates used the event to get their names and messages out.

Bill Maske of Truro manned a booth outside the convention hall to promote his run for Congress in Iowa's 4th District, a seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa.

The event also served as a reintroduction for Des Moines lawyer Roxanne Conlin, who recently announced she would run for Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley's seat.

Conlin, who made an unsuccessful bid for governor in 1982, joins two other Democrats running for the seat: Tom Fiegen of Clarence and Bob Krause of Fairfield.

Gov. Chet Culver, running for re-election to his second term next year, highlighted efforts by his administration to raise Iowa's minimum wage, expand access to health care and early childhood education opportunities.

I welcome a healthy debate about the future direction of this state," Culver said.