Frozen custard commando! Joe Biden scoops custard in Wisconsin

Vice President Joe Biden praised U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold on Friday as a man of principle and intellect, saying the junior senator was qualified to be vice president or president.

"This is one of the greatest ones," Biden said of the Wisconsin Democrat at one of two Milwaukee campaign fundraisers.

At a $500-per-plate luncheon, Biden gave a 45-minute speech touching on the economy, jobs and the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. He also spoke of his close working relationship with Feingold, who is running for his fourth term.

"This guy's got courage," Biden said, according to the pool reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Feingold returned the praise, recalling how the two worked together to create a timeline to end the Iraq war.

"This guy defines country and bipartisanship," Feingold said.

Two GOP political newcomers, millionaire manufacturer Ron Johnson and businessman Dave Westlake, are challenging Feingold's re-election bid.

After the fundraiser, Biden and Feingold stopped by a popular suburban Milwaukee restaurant to chat with employees and customers. They took no questions from reporters.

Biden committed a minor faux pas early on, strolling inside Kopp's Frozen Custard in Glendale and saying, "Where's the ice cream?"

A number of employees quickly corrected him: "Custard!"

Biden smiled, then made himself at home. With his sleeves rolled up, he strolled behind the counter and began to scoop custard into cones for reporters.

Then he assembled a bowl of chocolate custard with a vanilla wafer for Feingold. He finished up by sprinkling chocolate flakes on his cone of chocolate and vanilla custard.

It wasn't the first time a vice president had visited Kopp's. But manager Scott Borkin said it was a lot more boring when Biden's predecessor, Dick Cheney, stopped by five years ago.

"Cheney was like watching paint dry," said Borkin, a lifelong Republican. "Biden's really friendly, a very personal guy."

Biden and Feingold also mingled with customers seated outside. Biden sat on a short concrete wall next to wide-eyed 8-year-old Thomas Brousseau.

Thomas said afterward that he was nervous talking to the vice president, who chatted with him about custardflavors.

"He looks taller in real life," Thomas said.