Obama shrugs off pitbull Palin's attack with sermon on the mount

The Democratic presidential candidate appeared unscathed by the brickbats hurled at him at the Republican convention as he gave a self-assured performance on a sun-drenched hillside in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

One reason he may have seemed so easy about the insults is financial - his campaign coffers had swelled by $10million (£5.67million) overnight after Mrs Palin's speech.

Sermon on the mount: Obama speaks to 10,000 people in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Digs by John McCain's running mate - who calls herself 'a pitbull in lipstick' - had the unintended effect of prompting an outpouring of money to the Obama campaign from more than 130,000 donors.

'We're up over the previous record and the number is still climbing the more Palin's attacks are covered on cable and network news,' an Obama spokesman said.

Mr Obama told supporters in Pennsylvania he had been called worse things on the basketball court.

'They've spent the entire two nights attacking me or extolling John McCain's biography, which is fine,' Mr Obama said.

'They can use their convention time any way they want, but you can't expect that I'd be surprised by attacks from Republicans.'

Obama: 'You can't expect that I'd be surprised by attacks from Republicans'

He told workers on a factory tour: 'You're hearing about John McCain, and he's got a compelling biography as a POW. You're hearing a lot about me, most of which isn't true.

'What you're not hearing is a lot about you.'

Republicans were only going on the offensive because they do not have any real ideas or concrete plans to help improve the lives of ordinary Americans, he said.

His comments came after Mrs Palin mocked Mr Obama's education, career choices, legislative record, policy proposals, speaking skills and ability to attract large crowds.

'What does he actually seek to accomplish after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet?' she asked.

Mr Obama called the attacks 'not that big of a deal'.

'I've been called worse on the basketball court,' he said.

Asked exactly what he has been called on the basketball court, Mr Obama laughed and replied: 'You'd have to bleep it out.'

Bonding: The Democratic presidential hopeful greets supporters after the rally

After his speech in Buchanan Park, Lancaster, Mr Obama spoke with those who had come to listen.

Barbara Benard, whose son Brent Adams died in 2005 while serving in Ramadhi, Iraq, said later: 'It meant everything to me because he stopped immediately as soon as I told him my son was killed.'

'He said to me that he was in Ramadhi recently and things are a lot better over there... and that he would pray for my family,' Mrs Benard said.