control input fields 'type' attribute jQuery

[ggalan]

i have this jquery code that alters the input fields value.

i would like to control its 'type' attribute.

this kind of works but it feels off,
is there a better way of handling this task?


$('#password').live("click", function(){
if( $(this).val() == "Password" ) {
$(this).val("").css({'color':'#000'});
}else{
$(this).css({'color':'#000'});
}

var oldButton = $(this);
var newButton = oldButton.clone();

newButton.attr("type", "password");
newButton.attr("id", "newPassword");
newButton.insertBefore(oldButton);
oldButton.remove();
newButton.attr("id", "password");
});

$("#password").blur(function() {

if( $(this).val() == "" ) {


var oldButton = $(this);
var newButton = oldButton.clone();

newButton.attr("type", "text");
newButton.attr("id", "newPassword");
newButton.insertBefore(oldButton);
oldButton.remove();
newButton.attr("id", "password");

$(this).val("Password").css({'color':'#777'});
}
});



RE: this did the trick

$(this).get(0).type = 'password';