Palin is surprised Kerry knows her name

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sarah Palin is surprised Sen. John Kerry even knows her name.

The 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee and former Alaska governor said Thursday that Kerry "diminished himself" by mentioning her in his speech to the Democratic National Convention.

Kerry had criticized Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney for saying that Russia is America's top geopolitical foe. He mentioned that Palin famously said in a television interview that in Alaska, she could see Russia. "Mitt Romney talks like he's only seen Russia by watching Rocky IV," Kerry said.

Interviewed on "Fox Business Network," Palin asked, "How does he even know my name?"

"I mean aren't these guys supposed to be these bigwig elites who don't waste their time on the little people like me, me representing the average American who yeah I did say in Alaska you can see Russia from our land base and I was making the point that we are strategically located on the globe and when it comes to transportation corridors and resources that are shared and fought over, Alaska and I as the governor, had known what I was doing in dealing with some international issues that had to do with our resources that could help secure the nation," Palin said. "So it's funny that he would take a little pot shot like that, but it's funny he even knows my name. "

Palin resigned the governorship in July 2009. She has been a best-selling author and the subject of a reality television show.