As the crowd cheered its approval, Palin went on: “I might add that in small towns we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening.”

Palin was referring to Obama’s experience as a community organiser in Chicago before he served in the Illinois legislature and was elected to the United States Senate in 2004 as well as comments he made at a fundraiser in California about bitter rural voters who “cling” to guns and religion.

The address by Palin, 44, took place before a convention transformed from an orderly coronation into a messy, days-long drama since the McCain campaign’s disclosure on Monday that Palin’s 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, was pregnant. Since then there have been a host of other distractions including charges from top aides that the media has launched a sexist smear campaign against his running mate.

“I’m not a member of the permanent political establishment,” Palin said in her remarks which took aim at the news media as the crowd began lustily booing the press. “And I’ve learned quickly, these past few days, that if you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone. But here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion; I’m going to Washington to serve. the people of this country.”

... contd.