SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood has a message for his party's presidential ticket: Tone it down.

LaHood, a Peoria Republican who is retiring in January after seven terms, told a Chicago radio station Friday that some McCain-Palin rallies are unbecoming to Republicans.

In particular, he pointed to shouts of "terrorist" that have come from the audience when vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has talked about Democrat Barack Obama.

"This doesn't befit the office that she's running for, and, frankly, people don't like it," LaHood told WBBM Newsradio 780.

LaHood, whose 18th Congressional District includes northern parts of Decatur and Macon County, didn't immediately return messages requesting further information.

It's not just at Palin events that some members of the crowd have expressed anger when Obama's name is mentioned.

The Associated Press reported a member of the audience at a McCain rally in Wisconsin shouted "he's a terrorist" after the Arizona senator criticized Obama's association with William Ayers, a former war protester linked to Vietnam-era bombings. Ayers was never convicted of any crime.

Obama has denounced Ayers and his violent actions and views.

kurt.erickson@lee.net|789-0865