Palin Continues Attacking Obama Over Ties To Former 1970s Radical

Tallahassee, FL (AHN) - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin continued to hammer Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) over his association with former Weather Underground activist Bill Ayers on Monday. But pundits took note of some modifications in Palin's accusations; she previously accused Obama of "palling around with terrorists."

Palin again referred to a New York Times story over the weekend that explored the relationship of Obama with Ayers, a former member of the radical 1970s group who is now a University of Illinois professor and who hosted an event for Obama's first campaign for state legislator in 1995.

"Barack Obama said Ayers was just someone in the neighborhood," Palin said during a rally in Florida. "But that's less than truthful. His own top advisor said they were, quote, 'certainly friendly.' In fact, Obama held one of the first meetings of his political career in Bill Ayers's home. And they've worked together on various projects in Chicago."

The first-term governor spent the weekend making similar statements in Colorado and California. Pundits have noted that she has refrained from using the word "palling" after the Times and CNN said the Democrat and Ayers were never that close.

Palin had said on Saturday in Denver that Obama "though is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country."

Observers also noted Palin's use of the plural "terrorists." The Associate Press went so far as to say that Palin's comments against Obama were " unsubstantiated and carried a racially-tinged subtext that John McCain himself may come to regret."

Palin responded to the AP on Sunday, according to Fox. "The Associated Press is wrong. The comments are about an association that has been known but hasn't been talked about and I think its fair to talk about where Barack Obama kicked off his political career... it's important for Americans to know. Its really important for Americans to start knowing who the real Barack Obama is."

Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod said on CNN's 'American Morning' on Monday that the Illinois Democrat was unaware of Ayers' history with the Weather Underground when he attended the meet-and-greet event in 1995.

During an ABC debate earlier this year, Obama defended himself from criticisms about his ties to Ayers. He said, "The fact is, is that I'm also friendly with Tom Coburn, one of the most conservative Republicans in the United States Senate, who during his campaign once said that it might be appropriate to apply the death penalty to those who carried out abortions. Do I need to apologize for Mr. Coburn's statements? Because I certainly don't agree with those either."