Palin repeats 'no thanks' bridge account

ALBUQUERQUE, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, speaking in Albuquerque Saturday, defended her record on congressional earmark spending as governor of Alaska.

Palin was responding to comments earlier in the day by Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, who told a town hall meeting in Indiana Palin supported earmarks when she was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, before opposing them as governor.

Palin said she was "surprised" Obama raised the subject, ABC News reported.

"I didn't think he'd want to go there," she said. "Our opponent has requested nearly $1 billion in earmarks in just three years. That's about a million dollars, about a million dollars for every working day."

Palin then repeated a claim she has made often since Republican nominee John McCain announced her as his running mate -- that she "told the Congress thanks but no thanks on that 'Bridge to Nowhere.'" Palin did not mention that she supported the bridge during her campaign for governor, ABC said.