Campaigns fight over 'lipstick'

— -- The presidential race turned a few more notches negative Wednesday, despite promises by the candidates to run a "civil" campaign.

"This was the real kickoff of a nasty, negative campaign that will become ever more familiar in coming weeks," said Larry Sabato, professor of politics at the University of Virginia.

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and his Republican counterpart, John McCain, traded acerbic accusations that began after Obama likened McCain's promise of change to putting "lipstick on a pig."

As part of its response, the McCain campaign released a Web video Wednesday that accused Obama of indirectly insulting vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. "Ready to lead? No," the video says of Obama. "Ready to Smear? Yes."

Later in the day, Obama said McCain and other Republicans are guilty of spreading "lies and phony outrage."

Back in June, Obama predicted a "civil, substantive" debate when McCain called to congratulate him after the Illinois senator wrapped up the nomination.

Since then, "the race has heated up," and the rhetoric and the ads will continue to reflect that, predicts William Benoit, communications professor and political advertising expert at the University of Missouri.

"A lot of politicians are drinking their own Kool-Aid and they really believe some of these twisted or incorrect facts that they're spouting," adds Brooks Jackson, director of the non-partisan FactCheck.org project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center. He heads a team that "truth-squads" assertions in campaign ads and by candidates during debates and in speeches.

The tempest began during a campaign stop in Lebanon, Va., Tuesday. Obama said that he believes McCain would continue many of President Bush's economic policies, and would not bring "change" to Washington.

"You can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig," Obama then said, employing a common expression that politicians of both parties, including McCain and Vice President Cheney have used before.

The "lipstick" reference followed a joke that Alaska Gov. Palin told at last week's GOP convention. She said the difference between "hockey moms" such as herself and pit bulls is lipstick.

McCain campaign aides immediately charged that Obama was indirectly trying to remind voters of Palin. "Barack Obama's comments today are offensive and disgraceful. He owes Gov. Palin an apology," Palin spokeswoman Maria Comella said in a statement Tuesday evening.

It was late morning Wednesday when Obama entered the fray. He said his comment about McCain was being distorted by his opponents and that he won't "let them take over another election" with "foolish diversions."

Later, during an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, the host jokingly asked Obama: "Have you ever actually put lipstick on a pig?"

"The answer would be no, but I think it might be fun to try," Obama said. "Technically, had I meant it this way, she would be the lipstick, you see. The failed policies of John McCain would be the pig," Obama said, drawing laughter from the audience.

At a campaign rally in Fairfax, Va., McCain and Palin did not refer to the flap when talking about their desire to eliminate federal funding for wasteful pet projects. But it was a topic among the thousands of people in attendance. Wendy Koussis, a mortgage banker who attended the rally, said Obama's comment "was rude and disrespectful."

Laurie Letourneau, a retiree from Winchester, Va., noted that Obama also said, "You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper and call it change and it's still going to stink after eight years." Letourneau said "old fish" was a reference to McCain's age, 72.

Obama and McCain come together today in New York City to mark the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Contributing: David Jackson; the Associated Press