"While her appointment comes as a surprise, I am sure Governor Palin will make a positive contribution to the McCain campaign," Bennett said in a statement issued this morning.

"Palin brings administrative experience, energy and gender diversity to the ticket. She also has firsthand knowledge of the importance of energy development, which will help keep the focus on this important domestic issue during the campaign."

Just yesterday Bennett had publicly guessed McCain would pick Romney because he "fills all the holes in McCain's résumé. . . . It makes sense to put the two of them together."

Bennett, though, also had speculated that there were some good political reasons to put a woman on the ticket.

"I'm guessing [McCain's advisers] think, 'Well, maybe we need a woman - she might attract the women who are disappointed that Hillary [Clinton] didn't win to come over to the Republican Party,' " Bennett said. "But I think women who feel that strongly about Hillary aren't inclined to vote Republican."