Palin defends record as governor

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin defended nearly 200 million US dollars in federal pet projects she sought as Alaska governor this year as her ticket mate John McCain insisted she had never requested them.

As national polls showed Mr McCain moving ahead of rival Barack Obama with help from women and conservatives excited about Mrs Palin, the Democrat ended the week aggressively, releasing an ad mocking Mr McCain as out-of-touch and accusing his rival of lying about him.