The aide said all facts about Palin's record and background that have caused controversy as they were revealed in the past few days -- including the ongoing "troopergate" investigation and the fact that Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant -- were known to the McCain campaign. Washington lawyer Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr. led the search team.

"Nothing that has come out did not come out in the vet. She was fully vetted," the senior aide said.

Until last week, Palin was relatively unknown outside Alaska, and as facts have dribbled out about her, the McCain campaign has insisted that its examination of her background was thorough and that nothing that has come out about her was a surprise. "John had access to all that information and made the decision," campaign manager Rick Davis said last week in describing the vetting process.