Sarah Barracuda on the Prowl

I like hearing this:

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Saturday accused Democrat Barack Obama of "palling around with terrorists" because of his association with a former 1960s radical, stepping up the campaign's effort to portray Obama as unacceptable to American voters.

Palin's reference was to Bill Ayers, one of the founders of the group the Weather Underground. Its members took credit for bombings, including nonfatal explosions at the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol, during the tumultuous Vietnam War era four decades ago. Obama, who was a child when the group was active, served on a charity board with Ayers several years ago and has denounced his radical views and activities.

The Republican campaign, falling behind Obama in polls, plans to make attacks on Obama's character a centerpiece of presidential candidate John McCain's message with a month remaining before Election Day.

Palin told a group of donors at a private airport, "Our opponent ... is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect, imperfect enough, that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country." She also said, "This is not a man who sees America as you see America and as I see America."

This comes on the same day that the NY Times after 20 or so months of the Barack Obama campaign, finally runs an article connecting Obama to Ayers. That would be big news except for the fact the article tries very hard to make excuses for Obama and downplay the connection.

Anyone in journalism knows that if you want to minimize a story you release it on Saturday when nobody's paying attention. The Times must have been worried enough about the story that they held it for this morning.

The connection to a cloud of questionable people in Obama's life must be hit home, and I hope Palin continues to do it in every speech. "Palling around with terrorists" is a great line. Keep using it.

UPDATE: At the rally in Carson this afternoon Palin added this about Obama:

"Just once it would be nice if he said he wanted our country to win!"