Can Hillary cancel out Palin? The 'pitbull in lipstick' is so popular she has already been turned into a £16 doll

Democrats are hoping the former First Lady will help counteract the so-called 'Palin effect' that has boosted Republican John McCain into a narrow lead over their man Barack Obama in the opinion polls.

Mrs Palin's staunch pro-life views have suddenly turned abortion into the hottest campaign topic and the Democrats will have a hard job dragging the spotlight away from the 44-year-old vice-presidential candidate from Alaska.

Watch out, Obama: The Republican vice presidential candidate has become so popular she's already been turned into a doll (complete with gun)

As if to confirm how quickly she has captured the public imagination, two Sarah Palin dolls were launched today, less than a week after she accepted the nomination to be Mr McCain's running-mate.

Campaigning: But can Hillary Clinton cancel out Palin?

The first is Sarah Palin the Executive, dressed in the sort of suit she would wear as Alaska's governor.

The second, Sarah the Super Hero, has a long black coat, a white mini-skirt and a revolver strapped to a thigh.

The 12-inch dolls, costing around £16, are produced by Hero-builders in Connecticut. Founder Emil Vicale said: 'I expect the the gun-toting doll will sell the better of the two. She's tough, she's a hunter, a real action hero.'

While Mrs Palin was campaigning in Missouri, Mrs Clinton, 60, was in Florida to bolster Obama's vote there.

Obama, 47, was forced to admit that he was being too flippant when he said that it was 'above my pay grade' to answer a question about when a baby becomes entitled to human rights. 'All I meant to communicate was that I don't presume to be able to answer these kinds of theological questions,' he said.

His running mate, Joe Biden, 65, declared that, as a Roman Catholic, he believed life began at the moment of conception, but then, in an apparent effort not to antagonise voters, added that he would not impose his religious beliefs on other people.

The Obama campaign is running adverts in swing states denouncing McCain, 72, for being anti-choice. He has said unequivocally he believed human rights should begin at the moment of conception.

Mrs Palin did not mention abortion once during her electrifying speech at last week's Republican convention and hasn't spoken directly about the issue. But anti-abortion groups said she is ' energising' supporters who had been lukewarm to McCain.

Americans got a new intimate look at the Palin family at home with the release of a home video.

Ms Palin quizzes daughter Piper, 7, in the intimate family home video

The 50-second clip, shown on 'Inside Edition' on the Fox News Channel, shows Palin, 44, with her husband Todd and 7-year-old daughter Piper enjoying family time.

The Republican nominee can be seen joking with Todd about his fishing company, with her husband claiming it's his wife that gets the fish in during the summer.

Ms Palin also quizzes her daughter on what she does at work, with Piper humorously replying she doesn't know.

The video was shot just before Ms Palin gave birth to the Palin's youngest child Trig in 2008.

During the clip Ms Palin can be seen stroking her heavily pregnant belly.

The Republican candidate also shows off a musical talent by playing the flute.

Pregnant at the time with son Trig, Ms Palin strokes her belly in the video