Honestly I cannot remember a time when a candidate for high office sealed themselves in a bubble transmitting only pre-scripted smears and shaky denials.  Yet here's Sarah Palin and the McCain campaign doing just that.

I would love to see Joe Biden to come out strong, pointing out that if she is too afraid of the press to field questions then she is in no position to assume the role of VP. 

It's just a matter of time before the first button-making entrepreneur or bumper sticker press gets out a cartoon image of a pitbull with lipstick.  Then perhaps we will see myriad variations of that pitbull chewing up corruption or maybe an Obama / Biden sign or, for the more discriminating GOPer, an Obama-in-Muslim-garb chewdoll. 
This sort of banal, petty marketing plays well to the base and I can see McNeed-a-Cane playing for women this way.  Wouldn't all moms like to be pitbulls with lipstick?  Can I get you the bumper sticker or t-shirt?