Vice President Tom Ridge?

Speaking to reporters in Harrisburg, PA yesterday, former Pennsylvania Governor and former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge stated that he will be supporting John McCain for president:

“In a nutshell, I’m looking for a president who endorses the notion that the Republican Party, of necessity, to be a national party, must be a big-tent party. My friend John and I don’t agree on several issues, but he’s never been judgmental about it. That’s just never been his style. John is someone who has a record of reaching across the aisle to find solutions and answer some of the more pressing problems in this country. And I think that’s the kind of approach that we need, and I think he’ll bring it to the White House, and the kind of tone he’ll set for the country.”[Source]

The fact that Gov. Ridge is supporting McCain really isn’t anything new, since the McCain campaign announced Ridge’s support and his position as a National Co-Chair back in February. Ridge’s performance on the stump yesterday and the way he’s trying to pull in the rest of the Pennsylvania delegation is already leading to speculation about a McCain-Ridge ticket; Ridge’s coy response when asked about such a ticket will further fuel speculation:

Asked if he would be McCain’s running mate, Ridge demurred.

“I’m not presumptuous enough to think he’s even interested and that conversation has not occurred, and I’m not going to initiate it.”

If asked what would he say?

“I’ll tell you after he asks me.”

Ridge also took an opportunity to address Rudy Giuliani’s substantial lead over McCain in the Pennsylvania polls:

The heroes of 9/11 raced up the stairs and never came back down. I’m going to put it all in perspective. Rudy Giuliani did a great job as mayor, and we’re not going to denigrate that. Rudy is a celebrity. Rudy is a strong candidate, and he’s got this persona about him that has been very attractive to people. And we all understand that within the campaign. The kind of strength he showed after 9/11 was really very appealing. For the time being, the polls in Pennsylvania are what they are. We’re focused on the polls in Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire, and Rudy would like to have our kind of numbers there.

For complete coverage of Ridge’s discussion, check out reporter John Micek’s account.

More on this…

• Leslie Gromis Baker, Ridge’s former campaign manager is the head of McCain’s fundraising operation in Pennsylvania.
• David Girard-diCaro, a close friend of Ridge and a Pennsylvania GOP fundraising power broker, is also working on McCain’s finance team.
• Ridge’s editorial int he Philadelphia Inquirer.
• Ridge was a vice-presidential contender for Bush back in 2000.
• Ridge and McCain have been friends for decades.
• If you’re really jazzed about a McCain-Ridge ticket, don’t get too excited yet. Ridge is pro-choice and given McCain’s recent statement that “it’s one of the fundamental principles of a conservative to have respect and commitment to the dignity of human life, both the born and unborn,” it’ll be tough for McCain to tap Ridge for the VP slot while remaining consistent with his primary positions.