The pundits may have been stumped, but three North Carolina delegates to the Republican National Convention correctly guessed the Republican vice presidential nominee: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Marshall Hurley, a Greensboro lawyer, said he saw Palin's name in the news about a year ago and began reading up on her. He listed her in a Charlotte Observer survey of delegates earlier this month when asked who John McCain should pick, reports Mark Johnson.

"I don't have any claim to clairvoyance," Hurley said, adding that he's thrilled with the new GOP ticket.

Timothy Johnson, of Weaverville, also listed the "Governor of Alaska."

Jackie Wieland, of Greensboro, said in the survey that McCain should pick someone not expected by the media and public" and offered six options: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, businessman Steve Forbes,
Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Palin.

"This really energizes the party," Wieland said Friday. "A lot of my girlfriends who were Hillary supporters were seriously thinking about McCain, so I'm hoping this will push them over (to his side)."

The Rev. Lenwood Long Sr., a first-time delegate, runs out of superlatives in describing his experience in Denver.

In telephone call today just as he was getting ready to catch the light rail train for downtown, he called former President Bill Clinton’s speech last night "great," "fantastic" and "just magnificent."

Long, the pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Rolesville, was a Hillary Clinton supporter before he switched during the South Carolina primary to Barack Obama.

But it was the Clintons who provided most of yesterday’s excitement.

The highlight was "the drama around the roll call vote," Long said. Anticipation built for about 30 minutes before Hillary Clinton came in "with an entourage of cameras and Secret Service," he said.

When she cast all New York delegate votes for Obama and called for his nomination by acclimation, "it was a frenzy," Long said. "People were so excited."

Looking forward to Obama's speech, Long wants him to talk tonight about how he proposes to handle the challenges America faces — economic challenges in particular — and to establish an emotional connection with the audience.

"It's more important for people not to connect to his intellect, but to his heart," Long said.

Long is 63 and lives in Wake Forest. He was chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. Eva Clayton during her first term in Congress, and worked on all her campaigns.

DENVER – Democratic Senate candidate Kay Hagan may have skipped the Democratic National Convention, but her challenge to Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole continues to generate interest here.

“I'm adopting you,” U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat from Missouri, told North Carolina's delegates this morning. “I'm sold, totally 100 percent sold, on Kay Hagan."

McCaskill compared her own election two years ago to that of Hagan, saying in both cases no one initially thought the Democrat had a chance against a Republican incumbent, reports Rob Christensen.

McCaskill also dissed Dole, noting that they both serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“I serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee,” McCaskill said. “I just don't see her that often. We have that in common.”

DENVER - The great state of North Carolina, home of the First Flight, yada, yada, yada.

Never happened.

North Carolina never had a chance Wednesday night to announce its vote for Barack Obama after he was nominated by acclamation, reports Rob Christensen.

The North Carolina vote was to have been announced at the Democratic National Convention by state party chairman Jerry Meek, Gov. Mike Easley and U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield.

Not all convention experiences are the same, says Rob Black, a Democratic delegate from Apex.

State delegates and Washington D.C. insiders can share a city for a week, but their activities beyond the convention floor vary greatly, he said.

“It’s apples and oranges,” said Black, 39.

Black should know. This is his fifth convention, but his first as a delegate.

Black spent years working in Washington and had attended conventions since 1992 because they had something to do with his job.

“If you come from D.C. as a Beltway politico, you are much more plugged in to the parties,” he said. “They are the coin of the realm for D.C. politicos. If you come from the states, you’re not as plugged in to the social circuit or the buzz as to what the hottest party is.”

Black, who owns a political communications and lobbying firm that specializes in labor union work, called Dome this afternoon from a light rail station.

The North Carolina delegation was put in a hotel some miles from downtown Denver, but close to the rail line.

That’s what the delegation is using most to get around, he said.

DENVER - Gov. Mike Easley and First Lady Mary Easley are often not at their seats on the convention floor of the Pepsi Center.

State Democratic Chairman Jerry Meek implored the state's delegates this morning not to sit in the seats reserved for the Easleys, reports Rob Christensen.

"If you want to sit in the governor's seat, there is a process for that,” Meek quipped.

DENVER – Who would've thunk it?

North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley seems to be enjoying politicking at the Democratic National Convention.

Easley, who normally eschews politics, has been busy working the convention.

He has been attending fundraising receptions for the Democratic Governors Association, has given more than 20 press interviews and is speaking to delegation breakfasts in such states as Kansas, North Carolina, Michigan Arizona and Virginia.

He also also been networking with law firms and companies hosting receptions.

More after the jump.

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DENVER – When North Carolina's roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention is announced tonight, it will be delivered by three people – state Democratic Chairman Jerry Meek, Gov. Mike Easley and U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield.

That is, if it's announced at all.

There is talk that when the roll call gets to New York, Sen. Hillary Clinton will move that her one-time rival, Barack Obama, be nominated by acclamation. If that's the case, North Carolina will not get its moment in the sun, reports Rob Christensen.

Meek said it unusual, but not unprecedented, that three people would announce the vote. He plans a meeting this afternoon to decide what should be said.

His own personal preference, Meek quipped, is “the home of Duke basketball.” Meek, of course, is a Duke alum.

The actual voting by the delegation began this morning at a delegation breakfast. Because Obama won North Carolina, the outcome is not a mystery.

DENVER - Gov. Mike Easley told North Carolina delegates to the Democratic National Convention this morning that Harvey Gantt's U.S. Senate races laid the groundwork for Barack Obama in North Carolina.

"We've got a score to settle," Easley said, reports Jim Morrill.

Gantt, Charlotte's first African-American mayor, beat Easley in a runoff to win the 1990 Democratic Senate nomination. He went on to lose to Republican Sen. Jesse Helms that year and again in 1996.

"We had a chance to elect the first African-American statewide in North Carolina and we came that close and fell short," Easley said.

Later Easley told reporters the Gantt campaigns "showed that race is something you can transcend, and I think Barack Obama has done that."

More after the jump.

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Which former Democratic vice presidential candidate - John Edwards or Joe Lieberman - would be less welcome at the Democratic National Convention?

That was the question that The New York Times put to several convention delegates. Their completely unscientific conclusion?

Lieberman, who is campaigning for Republican presidential nominee John McCain, is the bigger pariah.

"Edwards was only unfaithful to his wife. Lieberman was unfaithful to an entire party,” Massachusetts delegate Phil Johnston told the Times.