Lipstick on Pigs in the Animal Farm

I've heard the audio a few times and if he hadn't taken a moment to pause for laughter and applause, I would have thought it to be just another remark. But he did pause. I think part of it was to see what McCain's camp would do in reaction to it. And then today, he performed to make himself look like the politician who could 'rise above' politics as usual. But I do think the remark was done deliberately. I think he did it to lead to today's press conference and show himself as being above the fray, and sticking to issues. However, I haven't really heard too much substance from his speeches.