Biden confident top court will uphold health law

(CBS News) -- Vice President Joe Biden expressed confidence the Supreme Court would uphold President Obama's signature health care law when it decides on the constitutionality of the landmark legislation later this year.

"We think the mandate and the law is constitutional. And we think the court will rule that way," Biden said in an interview to be broadcast on "Face the Nation" Sunday.

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The mandate refers to a provision of the law forcing everyone to buy health insurance or pay a penalty. The court heard three days of oral arguments in the case earlier this week.

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Asked by host Bob Schieffer what would happen if the court threw out the law, the vice president declined to speculate.

"I am not going to speculate about something I don't believe will happen. I don't believe it will happen," Biden said.

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The former Delaware senator, who appears set to take on the role of the administration's top attack dog as the president's re-election campaign turns its focus to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, shifted the conversation to focus on Republican vows to repeal the law if the court upholds it.

"And so I just think we should focus on what is the law doing for people now and what would happen if in fact the Republicans were able to repeal it," Biden said.

Tune in Sunday for the full interview during the first hour-long episode of "Face the Nation," which also includes interviews with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

Read Bob's take on the Biden interview