In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, Gov. Sarah Palin responded to news reports indicating that supporters of the Republican ticket have made offensive and threatening comments directed at Senator Barack Obama at campaign rallies, saying that she had not heard them.

“We have heard through some mainstream media is that folks have hollered out some pretty atrocious and unacceptable things,” including threats of harm, she said, adding “we have not heard that.”

Ms. Palin added: “If I ever were to hear that standing up there at the podium with the mic, I would call them out on that, and I would tell these people, no, that’s unacceptable, let’s rise above that please.”



But Governor Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, said she would not hesitate to continue accusing Mr. Obama of “palling around with terrorists” because of his association with the former founder of the radical group, the Weather Underground:

“I would say it again, I would say it again, because again, according to the information that we have, the association that he’s had with Bill Ayers wasn’t just one or two time sitting on a board together,” Ms. Palin said. “No, there’s been quite a few associations and events and meetings and discussion and emails and calls and to not disavow that too, I think is troubling.”

Mr. Obama has portrayed his association with Mr. Ayers as limited. And a Times report notes that the two men do not appear to have been close.

Governor Palin made her comments in an interview over the weekend with the Christian television network’s political reporter, David Brody, who also spoke to her about issues of faith and politics.

She expressed support for a Constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman. “I wish on a federal level that that’s where we would go because I don’t support gay marriage,” she said.

In the interview she also discussed her personal religious beliefs and said that “faith and God in general has been mocked through this campaign.” She also spoke about the things she prays for and suggested how that faith has helped her through the grueling campaign.

“I don’t know how anybody would want to do this if they didn’t have real strong faith in God that he’s got it all under control,” she said.