Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, Saturday spoke out publicly about her stand against abortion, and said Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is out of the mainstream on the emotional issue of abortion.

The Alaska governor, who is a devout Christian, and is known to oppose abortion in almost every circumstance, at a large Republican gathering in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, said: “It’s hard to think of many issues that could possibly be more important than who is protected in law and who isn’t. Who is granted life and who is denied it?”

Palin, who has a baby with Downs Syndrome, said the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the Illinois senator would appoint “activist” judges who would “continue to smother debates on this issue of life.”

Calling abortion an important subject, Palin tried to skewer Obama saying she had listened hard to his stand on abortion rights.

Last spring, Obama, while answering a woman’s question about stopping abortion, had said 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.” Later, a campaign spokesman clarified Obama believes “children are miracles”, and that steps need to be taken to reduce teen pregnancies and abortions.

Referring to that incident, Palin said: “Mr. Obama is a politician who has long since left the middle ground on the issue of life. 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.”

Palin had so far steered clear of the abortion issue since her nomination as John McCain’s running mate, but not this time. She said: “I believe the truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are least able to defend and to speak for themselves. And who is more vulnerable or more innocent than a child?” She added: “Every innocent life does matter and everyone belongs in the circle of protection. Every child has something to contribute to our world if we give them that chance.”