ALBANY — Vice President Joe Biden, former GOP presidential hopeful Fred Thompson, and robo calls from Rudy Giuliani headlined the final push in the hotly contested race for the 23rd Congressional District yesterday.

Biden, speaking in Watertown, blasted front-runner Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman — who became the de facto GOP contender Saturday when Republican Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava quit the contest.

Hoffman is a right-wing clone of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Biden charged.

Meanwhile, Thompson and the Giuliani recording ripped Hoffman’s rival, Democrat William Owens.