Vice President Joe Biden headlined a $1,000-per-plate breakfast fundraiser at the Westin Columbus Hotel for Kilroy, a Columbus Democrat who was narrowly elected last year.

About 100 people attended the event, during which people who contributed $2,400 could have their photographs taken with Biden.

It was the first of three stops in Ohio for the vice president, who also touted the benefits of the federal stimulus act during a speech at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and spoke at a fundraiser in Cleveland for Reps. Zack Space of Dover and John Boccieri of Alliance.

Biden used most of his 30-minute speech at the Kilroy fundraiser to trumpet the federal stimulus act, which he credited with creating or saving 7,000 education jobs in Ohio and 336 police jobs.

He said the economy was in free fall when he and President Barack Obama took office and has begun to stabilize.

"The question is, look at what you inherited, look at what Ohio got nailed with after eight years of absolute failed economic policy," he said.

Banks are beginning to repay federal loans and the government is beginning to focus on shoring up the housing market, he said.

"We're no longer talking about whether there will be a recovery. We're talking about how quickly it will occur. Because it's working."

Kilroy, a former Franklin County commissioner, was elected to Congress last year by 2,312 votes out of more than 304,000 cast, after losing by a similar margin in 2006.

Her Republican opponent next year is expected to be former state Sen. Steve Stivers, whom she narrowly defeated last year.

Republicans say Obama's popularity is lagging, which could help them retake the House, where Democrats hold a 79-seat majority.

"With Ohio unemployment over 10 percent, vulnerable Democrats like Mary Jo Kilroy will be held accountable for voting with her liberal leadership instead of her constituents," Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said in a statement.

jnash@dispatch.com