CNN

Barack Obama used the 'lipstick' line at a campaign event in Lebanon, Virginia, on Tuesday.

(CNN) - Sen. Barack Obama's reference to "lipstick on a pig" has Republicans demanding an apology and Democrats accusing Sen. John McCain of a "pathetic attempt" to play the gender card.

McCain's campaign said Obama's remarks were offensive and a slap at Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin - despite the fact that the Arizona senator himself used the phrase last year to describe a policy proposal of Hillary Clinton's.

Watch: The campaign trail has grown nasty as the race tightens

Obama's campaign responded by saying McCain was running a "dishonorable campaign."

Obama made the remarks at a Virginia campaign stop late Tuesday afternoon.

Watch: Internet rumors target Palin

"John McCain says he's about change too, and so I guess his whole angle is, 'Watch out George Bush - except for economic policy, health care policy, tax policy, education policy, foreign policy and Karl Rove-style politics - we're really going to shake things up in Washington,'" he said.

Full story