Palin makes first California appearance after nomination, critizing Obama

U.S. Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin Saturday made a speech at a jammed tennis stadium near Los Angeles, criticizing Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

In her first appearance in California after McCain chose her as his running mate more than a month ago, Palin demonstrated a folksy and feisty manner.

Republican vice presidential nominee Alaska Governor Sarah Palin smiles during the U.S. vice presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, October 2, 2008.

She told the crowded audience that her father was born in Los Angeles and her paternal grandfather was a photographer who lived in North Hollywood.

Apart from all the vows she made as a would-be vice president, an important highlight of the speech was her criticism of Obama's past dealings with a former bomber, questioning his stance on terrorism.

"Our opponent is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists who targeted their own country," said Palin amid another chorus of boos.

Palin referred to a New York Times front page story on William Ayers, who participated in bombings of New York City Police Headquarters, the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon in the early 1970s,and later become a college professor who was associated with Obama during a 1990s school reform effort in Chicago.

The speech at the Home Depot Center in a Los Angeles suburb drew an audience of 15,000 to 20,000 people, who interrupted Palin's 25-minute speech about 20 times by applause.

Brian Brokaw, communications director of California Democratic Party, said he was not surprised by what Palin said during the speech.

"Sarah Palin and John McCain have announced that they'll be throwing more punches in the coming weeks, which is just another sign that they are losing ground all over the country," Brokaw said.

Major party presidential and vice presidential candidates rarely make public appearances here during the general election campaign because California is considered a safe Democratic state. Most prefer to concentrate on the so-called battleground states like Ohio and Pennsylvania.

When candidates do come to California, their trips are usually for fundraisers. And Palin was scheduled to attend a fundraiser near Los Angeles following her speech at the tennis stadium, before heading for Northern California for another fundraiser on Sunday.