Palin assails Obama at tea party gathering

Her audience waved flags and erupted in cheers during multiple standing ovations as Palin gave the keynote address at the first national convention of the tea party coalition, an antiestablishment, grass-roots network motivated by anger over the growth of government, budget-busting spending, and Obama’s policies.

Filled with Palin’s trademark folksy jokes, the speech amounted to a 45-minute pep talk for the coalition and promotion of its principles. The speech also was rife with criticism for Obama and Democrats who control Congress, but delivered with a light touch.

The former Alaska governor, who resigned from office last summer before completing her first term, didn’t indicate whether her political future would extend beyond cable news punditry and paid speeches to an actual presidential candidacy.

All she offered was a smile when a moderator asking her questions used the phrase “President Palin.’’ That prompted most in the audience to stand up and chant “Run, Sarah, run!’’

But, given the plethora of attacks that Palin leveled at Obama, she seemed like she was already running against him. And, perhaps, as an independent.

Palin criticized Obama for continuing to blame George W. Bush for the country’s woes instead of blaming what she called the Democrat’s own big government, big spending agenda that has made the country less secure. She called his policies out of date and said it “is running out of time,’’ suggesting big GOP wins in the fall midterm elections.