WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a Democrat that Republican presidential nominee John McCain has hailed as a hero, has compared McCain to segregationist George Wallace.

Lewis was elected to Congress from Georgia after years as a civil rights activist. McCain praised him in his book, "Why Courage Matters," and said in an appearance at an evangelical church that Lewis is one of "three wise men" he would seek advice from if elected president.

In a posting on Politico, Lewis, who supports the Democratic nominee, Barack Obama, accused McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, of "sowing the seeds of hatred and division."

"George Wallace never threw a bomb," Lewis said. "He never fired a gun, but he created the climate and the conditions that encouraged vicious attacks against innocent Americans who were simply trying to exercise their constitutional rights."

McCain called Lewis' posting "shocking" and "beyond the pale."

"I call on Sen. Obama to immediately and personally repudiate these outrageous and divisive comments that are so clearly designed to shut down debate 24 days before the election," McCain said.

An Obama spokesman said the Illinois senator does not believe McCain is in any way comparable to Wallace. But he said Palin's rhetoric is "baseless and profoundly divisive."

Palin assails Obama on abortion

JOHNSTOWN, Pa., Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin Saturday said Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is out of the mainstream on abortion.

Speaking at a large Republican gathering in Johnstown, Pa., the Alaska governor said the Illinois senator would appoint "activist" judges who would "continue to smother debates on this issue of life," the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

"Mr. Obama is a politician who has long since left the middle ground on the issue of life," Palin said. "He said a woman shouldn't have to be 'punished with a baby.' He said that right here in Johnstown. It's about time we called him on it."

Obama last spring answered a woman's question about stopping abortion by saying he would teach his two daughters "first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby." A campaign spokesman later said Obama believes "children are miracles" and that steps need to be taken to reduce teen pregnancies and abortions.

"The more I hear from Senator Obama, the more I understand why he's so vague, and please, it's not negative or mean spirited to talk about his record," Palin said.

"I'm glad she talked about abortion," said James Nance, 36, of Hagerstown, Md. "We're killing babies and it's something that needs to be discussed."

Hurricane Nobert crossing Baja California

CABO SAN LAZARO, Mexico, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Hurricane Norbert, with sustained top winds of near 100 mph, Saturday battered Baja California before heading to Mexico's west coast.

After crossing the baja, Norbert's eye was out over the Gulf of California, heading for mainland Mexico, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the west coast of Baja California from Puerto San Andresito to Agua Blanca, and for the peninsula's east coast from north of La Paz to Loreto. A warning also was in place for the coastal mainland of Mexico from Topolobampo north to Guaymas, the center said.

At 5 p.m. EDT, Norbert was centered about 65 miles south-southeast of Loreto, Mexico, and about 125 miles west-southwest of Los Mochis, Mexico, moving to the north-northeast at about 15 mph. It was expected to make landfall on mainland Mexico during the night.

Hurricane-force winds were reaching 35 miles out from the center and winds were still at tropical storm levels 125 miles out.

Norbert was expected to drop 4-6 inches of rain over large areas, with up to 10 inches possible, producing life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, hurricane center forecasters said.

The storm surge was expected to push tides 3-6 feet above normal.

Earthquake in Chechnya kills 12

GROZNY, Russia, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- An earthquake struck the Russian republic of Chechnya Saturday, killing at least 12 people, a government official said.

Health Minister Musa Akhmadov told ITAR-TASS that in addition to the dead, 105 people were injured.

Southern Regional Center spokesman Oleg Grekov could not confirm or deny reports that a police officer was among those killed in Saturday's earthquake.

The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry was surveying the damage caused by the temblor, ITAR-TASS said. A number of houses and other buildings were reported to have been partly destroyed, the Russian news agency said.