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Row over Obama 'lipstick' remark Obama rejects 'lipstick' charge
(9 minutes later)
The US Democratic presidential candidate has denied claims of sexism after likening his rival's promise of change to putting "lipstick on a pig".The US Democratic presidential candidate has denied claims of sexism after likening his rival's promise of change to putting "lipstick on a pig".
Barack Obama had said his Republican rival John McCain would carry on the policies of the current government. Barack Obama said Republican John McCain's outrage was "phoney" and he was interested in debating real issues.
Mr McCain's campaign accused him of smearing running mate Sarah Palin, who joked last week that lipstick was all that separated a hockey mom and a dog. The "made-up controversy" began on Tuesday after Mr Obama accused his rival of pursuing politics of the current government.
Mr Obama's campaign said it was a well-worn phrase and she was not the target. Mr McCain's campaign accused him of smearing running mate Sarah Palin.
The McCain campaign's attack was "a pathetic attempt to play the gender card about the use of a common analogy", the Obama campaign said in a statement. Mrs Palin joked last week that lipstick was all that separated a hockey mom and a pit bull.
Mr McCain had used the same analogy to criticise a health care plan presented by former Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton last year, the statement added.
'Offensive''Offensive'
The remark was made during a rally in Virginia as Mr Obama accused the McCain of trying suddenly to adopt the promise of change - a platform he himself has been running on for months.The remark was made during a rally in Virginia as Mr Obama accused the McCain of trying suddenly to adopt the promise of change - a platform he himself has been running on for months.
Drawing a link between the Republican senator for Arizona and President George W Bush, he suggested change would be impossible for Mr McCain to achieve.Drawing a link between the Republican senator for Arizona and President George W Bush, he suggested change would be impossible for Mr McCain to achieve.
"Now think about it, these are the same folks that have been in charge for the last eight years," he said."Now think about it, these are the same folks that have been in charge for the last eight years," he said.
"You can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig. You can wrap up up an old fish in a piece of paper and call it change. It's still going to stink after eight eight years. We've had enough.""You can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig. You can wrap up up an old fish in a piece of paper and call it change. It's still going to stink after eight eight years. We've had enough."
The McCain campaign responded by accusing him of "smearing" Mrs Palin, governor of Alaska, in "offensive and disgraceful" comments and demanded an apology.The McCain campaign responded by accusing him of "smearing" Mrs Palin, governor of Alaska, in "offensive and disgraceful" comments and demanded an apology.
Mrs Palin, a self-described "hockey mom", made her joke about lipstick during a speech at the Republican National Convention last Wednesday.Mrs Palin, a self-described "hockey mom", made her joke about lipstick during a speech at the Republican National Convention last Wednesday.
The row erupted as a new poll by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News suggested that Mr Obama and Mr McCain were in a statistical dead heat. Mr Obama held a lead of several points earlier this summer.The row erupted as a new poll by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News suggested that Mr Obama and Mr McCain were in a statistical dead heat. Mr Obama held a lead of several points earlier this summer.
Another poll by CNN and the Opinion Research Foundation also put the rival candidates in a statistical tie, with Mr Obama polling 49% to Mr McCain's 48%.Another poll by CNN and the Opinion Research Foundation also put the rival candidates in a statistical tie, with Mr Obama polling 49% to Mr McCain's 48%.
The latest Gallup daily tracking poll of registered voters gave Mr McCain a lead of 49% to Mr Obama's 44%.The latest Gallup daily tracking poll of registered voters gave Mr McCain a lead of 49% to Mr Obama's 44%.