If you are a Democrat watching uneasily the growing support for McCain/Palin among women – especially Wal-Mart moms – how best to respond?

Maybe best to avoid serving up an elderly white man to say that a vote for snappy young Palin is a step backwards for women?

Watch Joe Biden’s hesitation as he has a split second to calculate how if at all he qua older man might credibly and unpatronisingly offer a view on what is or is not good for women.

Then, he plunges.

And this Obama line – "putting lipstick on a pig" – also is causing a storm of comment.