Joe Biden must walk a fine line facing Sarah Palin

By Thomas Ferraro

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Reuters) - Joe Biden has a woman problem. Her name is Sarah Palin.

Whether on the campaign trail or in their Oct. 2 debate, the Democrats' candidate for vice president must walk a fine line between attacking Palin, his Republican rival, and chasing away women voters.

"Joe Biden has to be careful, and he knows it," an aide said.

It's a special challenge for Biden, a seasoned debater and a respected voice on foreign policy who has built a reputation in the rough-and-tumble of U.S. politics for displaying both charm and aggression.

As Democrat Barack Obama's running mate, Biden has drawn cheers and laughter at campaign stops ripping into John McCain, the Republican Arizona senator running for president with Palin, Alaska's governor.

For 35 years a Delaware senator, Biden, 65, has prefaced his cutting remarks with "my good friend, John."

He speaks softly of Palin, 44, knowing there could be a backlash from women if he doesn't temper his bark and bite in dealing with the first-term governor who is also the first woman on a national Republican ticket.

Fielding questions from a campaign crowd of several hundred people in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Thursday, Biden was asked by a woman if he would debate Palin as if she were a man.