WASHINGTON - DEMOCRAT Barack Obama on Saturday lambasted Vice-President Dick Cheney's endorsement of Republican John McCain as proof the Republican ticket is synonymous with President George W. Bush's administration.

After Mr Cheney hailed Mr McCain as the right person to lead the country, saying the Arizona senator 'understands the danger facing America,' Mr Obama mocked the Republicans for attempting to continue the policies of the last eight years.

'Earlier today, Dick Cheney came out of his undisclosed location and he hit the campaign trail,' Mr Obama told a rally in Pueblo, Colorado, quoting Mr Cheney as saying he was 'delighted' to back Mr McCain.

'So I would like to congratulate Senator McCain on this endorsement, because he really earned it. That endorsement didn't come easy. Senator McCain had to vote with George Bush 90 per cent of the time and agree with Dick Cheney to get it,' Mr Obama said.

'McCain had to serve as Washington's biggest cheerleader for going to war in Iraq and support its economic policies that are no different from the last eight years.'

On the campaign trail with just three days to go before the Nov 4 election, Mr Obama used Mr Cheney's endorsement to highlight his own platform of change.

'Do you think Dick Cheney is delighted to support John McCain because he thinks John McCain is going to bring change to Washington? Do you think John McCain and Dick Cheney have been talking about how to really shake things up?' he asked.

'Come on. Colorado, we know better,' the Illinois senator said.

The vice president made the endorsement because he 'knows that with John McCain you get a two-fer: George Bush's economic policy and Dick Cheney's foreign policy,' Mr Obama said.

On earlier Saturday, at a campaign event in Laramie, Wyoming, Mr Cheney hailed the 72-year-old Vietnam veteran as 'the right leader for this moment in history.'

Mr Cheney brought up the Sept 11, 2001 attacks, which he said 'left our country shaken that day,' and highlighted Mr Bush's role as commander-in-chief.

'In that terrible time we looked to our leader, and we found new strength. In the aftermath of 9/11, few would have guessed that our nation would go this long without another attack, but we have,' he said to applause from the crowd.

'And that success is due to some wise decisions by the president, as well as the outstanding work of people in law enforcement, intelligence, homeland security, and the United States military,' he said.

'John is a man who understands the danger facing America, he's a man who has looked into the face of evil and not flinched,' said Mr Cheney, who has served as vice-president alongside President George W. Bush for two terms.

'I'm delighted to support John McCain, and I'm pleased that he has chosen a running mate with executive talent, toughness, and common sense,' said Mr Cheney, referring to Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. -- AFP