When Silvio Berlusconi reveals his inner contempt for certain others in public, he does it addressing a crowd massed in front of the Coliseum in Rome, not at a chi-chi Bay Area soiree of the rich and liberal. Malcolm Morre of the UK Telegraph writes:

Silvio Berlusconi has said only "retards" will vote for his rivals in Italy's general election.

"I do not believe that Italians could be retarded enough to fall into a trap like this," said the media magnate in his final rally in front of the Colosseum.

Mr Berlusconi used the word "grullo", a grave insult in Florentine dialect.

The phrase recalled his use of the word "coglione", or testicle, to describe opposition supporters at the last election in 2006.

However, the perma-tanned billionaire committed one gaffe too many when he went on to insult Italy's iconic football player, Francesco Totti.

Upon hearing that Mr Totti was supporting his rivals, he shrugged: "Those with nothing between their ears have nothing between their ears."

Mr Totti has repeatedly been lampooned in Italy for being ignorant. The footballer's legions of fans rapidly forced Mr Berlusconi into an apology.