“The roosters may crow, but the hens deliver.”

That was the late, great former Governor of Texas, Ann Richards. And although she’d never in a million years want her remark to be applicable to Republican Sarah Palin, in this political season it does apply. 

And it applies not only to Palin’s meteoric ascendancy and her gob-smacking of Barack Obama. It applies to Hillary Clinton’s shadow over Obama — her strong campaign against him during the primaries, the power she wielded even after she lost by a hair and what he desperately needs from her now. This will go down in history as the first presidential campaign dominated by women — women who ran, women who lost, women who had greatness cynically thrust upon them, women who voted and didn’t vote, women who made their voices heard. 

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Obama, at the moment, seems flummoxed by Palin, much as he was by Hillary, during the best of her run.

Oh, how the tables have turned, as CNN’s Anderson Cooper pointed out. Obama came from nowhere and crushed Hillary’s “inevitable” nomination.  Now Palin really appears from nowhere and is battering Obama’s “semi-inevitable” win. (The truth is, he’s never had a commanding lead over anybody — this has been a tight race right from the start.) 

John McCain is almost incidental to Palin, like a fond grandfather proudly standing aside and watching his progeny make him proud, make him exciting — and very possibly make him president! If he does win in November, he has Palin to thank. And he might consider how this very tough, very ambitious woman is going to make him say “thank you.”

If they win the White House, John McCain will most assuredly hear the chilling words uttered by Glenn Close to Michael Douglas in “Fatal Attraction”: “I’m not going to be ignored!”

And I will be fascinated to see another, truly unique, White House soap opera play out. (We’d have the wedding of Bristol and Levi to look forward to, not to mention the birth of their baby.)

P.S.  For all of you who have received the e-mail about the books Sarah Palin “banned” (I’ve received it half a dozen times) please be aware — it is an Internet hoax! Also, she did not shoot 40 wolves from the air, either.

But this is what the Republicans love — unfair attacks on their fragile, victimized mother of five. 

Oh, and how scarily brilliant was it to schedule Palin’s sit-down with Charlie Gibson yesterday, the seventh anniversary of 9/11 and the very day Palin’s son shipped out to Iraq? (Joe Biden’s son is being deployed to the war zone in October, but we hear less about that.)

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On to lighter matters: Back when I turned 80, my friends threw me a marvelous party. One of the most marvelous aspects of it was a young man who arrived and sang “The Way You Look Tonight” to me. He was adorable, funny and full of a kind of innocent self-confidence. He’d already had some success, but I wasn’t really aware of it. His name was Michael Bublé.

I wrote in my column all about my party and my great age. And also about young Mr. Bublé. I raved. He was already on the fast track to big things.

It’s been one smash album after another since then. His concerts are a great big romp, with female fans storming the stage. He is a mix of Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, Sammy Davis Jr. with a terrific modern twist.

Michael celebrated  a birthday of his own the other night. He turned 33. He had himself an intimate little gathering at his favorite Manhattan eatery, the legendary Patsy’s. He ordered veal parmigiana and broccoli sauté, just like Frank Sinatra. (Patsy’s was Sinatra’s top spot to dine when he visited the Big Apple.)  

I was planning on jumping out of a birthday cake and gasping out a breathy MM-style “Happy Birthday.” But I had a conflicting event, which wasn’t nearly as much fun. (I’ll save that beaded, transparent dress for something else, I guess!) Later, Michael and his party moved to the outdoor patio at the Dream Hotel off Central Park and 55th Street.

Michael’s latest CD is titled "Call Me Irresponsible."