Obama questions Palin’s foreign policy experience

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama laughingly questioned his rival's assertion that Gov. Sarah Palin has more foreign policy experience than he does because of Alaska's proximity to Russia.

"I actually knew that Alaska was right next to Russia as well," Obama said chuckling. "I saw it on a map."

{mosads}For the most part, Obama, speaking on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," avoided any harsh criticism of Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) new running mate, but he seemed to indicate that he views the pick as largely political.

Obama cited reports that said McCain was considering independent Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman as a running mate, noting that "the right wing of the Republican Party would've had a riot."

"I think she's a skilled politician," Obama said. "She wouldn't be governor of Alaska if she wasn't a skilled politician."

Obama also worked to tie Palin to the current unpopular administration, saying Palin "may be even more aligned with George Bush and Dick Cheney than even John McCain himself is."

Obama also addressed the GOP's criticism of his years as a community organizer during his mid-20s, as particulary noted during Palin's address to the delegates.

"It's a real puzzling thing," Obama said.

The Illinois senator noted that one of the major themes of McCain's convention was one of service, adding that because of that "it was curious to me that they would mock" his time as a community organizer.

"I would think that's what we want all our young people to do," Obama said.

Obama did say he didn't hear any racial codes in the criticism as suggested by Stephanopoulos.