ST PAUL - MR Barack Obama's campaign on Wednesday branded a high-stakes speech by Republican vice presidential pick Sarah Palin as the work of 'George Bush's speech writer'.

The Obama campaign reacted after a series of withering attacks by the Alaska governor on the Illinois senator's political style and presidential campaign.

'The speech...was well delivered, but it was written by George Bush's speechwriter and sounds exactly like the same divisive, partisan attacks we've heard from George Bush for the last eight years,' said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.

'If Governor Palin and John McCain want to define change' as voting with George Bush ninety per cent of the time, that's their choice, but we don't think the American people are ready to take a ten per cent chance on change.'

The Obama campaign has made concerted efforts to saddle Republican presidential hopeful McCain with the legacy of the unpopular president George W. Bush. -- AFP