SPRINGFIELD | Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin took aim Tuesday at Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, asking if she has the experience needed to step in and be president if necessary.

He pointed to recent comments from Republicans suggesting Palin's experience of governor of Alaska and chief of the state's National Guard contributed to her qualifications for the nation's second-highest post.

Durbin said leading the state National Guard and being ready to lead the U.S. military aren't the same.

"It is dramatically different," Durbin said. "It's not even close."

But while criticizing her, Durbin said attacks on Palin's family should be out of bounds. Palin had to deal with headlines over the weekend about her pregnant teenage daughter and her husband's driving under the influence charge from the 1980s.

Criticism of Palin's experience level comes as Republicans have been attacking Obama's relatively short life in politics since the beginning of the campaign.

Republican state Rep. Dan Brady, who's helping run U.S. Sen. John McCain's presidential bid in Illinois, said Palin brings experience as an executive not found on the Democratic ticket.

"She has noted experience that you just can't dismiss away," said Brady, of Bloomington.

Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or (217) 789-0865.