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)."