ERIE, Pennsylvania (CNN) – Tom Ridge might be a long-shot in the vice presidential sweepstakes, but John McCain certainly holds him in high esteem.
The presumptive GOP nominee, who refuses to discuss the vetting process for potential running mates, heaped praise on his friend and adviser on Monday in Ridge’s hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania.
At one point, a GE employee at a brief town hall meeting here asked McCain what his plans would be for his first 90 days in office.
“Call Tom Ridge to Washington from whatever vacation he is taking and get him to work,” McCain answered, to much applause.
Selecting Ridge, a Catholic and former two-term governor of Pennsylvania, could boost McCain’s chances in this swing state. But Ridge also supports abortion rights, a factor that would likely turn off segments of the Republican base.
McCain said he was “honored” to know Ridge, “who had every opportunity after he graduated from Harvard not to go to Vietnam. He could have found a doctor that would have a given a cert that he bad a bad knee. But instead he went and decided to serve his country during the Vietnam War.
“He came back here to Erie and he decided to be a prosecutor, and then he decided to seek a role, a seat in congress and then of course as governor,” McCain continued. That’s the kind of people this part of America produces. I’m proud to be in his company.”
From CNN Politics
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Memo to McCrypt and Crew – Quick, set up a 24/7 watch on the corrals at your local pony express offices, in case they wish to announce the Republican's VP choice!
Tom Ridge campaigned hard for George Bush Senior, Bob Dole, and George W Bush. Neither of these candidates won Pennsylvania.
People in Erie are struggling from a poor economy and watching the Iraq war claim more and more lives.
They are going to vote for change, not more of the GOP same.
McCain needs to pick anyone that will help him beat the 'empty-suit' Obama...even Hillary, if necessary!!!
yes,you support all bush cronies.tom ridge.creator of the katrina disaster.what a joke.keep it up mccain.i like watching your 'numbers' drop.
And the search continues.......ummmmmm....a Vietnam Veteran......we are getting closer.
Isn't this the genius behind the color coded threat levels??
PLEASE make him the VP running mate!!!!!!!!
Go Obama!
by the way GOP? why cant you afford your own convention?wasting too much money on attack ads?lol!
Yuo just can't figure out who you think McCains running mate will be, can you? Every story has it as someone else. If he says good morning to someone- THAT'S THE GUY! Nice tie- THAT'sT THE GUY!
why don't you wait until he announces his selection to reorpt
obama won't win if Clinton is not his VP.....
Don't do it, John.
wow, shallow vindictive obama supporters are rampant today. . .
Ridge would be a good choice. He didn't create katrina disaster, the local and state government did. Since when did the populus depend so much on government to solve their problems?
Ok, McCain, he is your ticket maker open minded pro-choice that would be one small step for the Republican Redemtion and one Giant leap to the CENTER. As and Independent I would select a Mainstream Administration and a Bi-Partiasan Cabinet that would be a mainstream ideal ticket.
McCain/Ridge 08
Hillary12
The same Tom Ridge that quit Homeland security because he needed to make more money and spend more time with his family?
This is very Erie, alright..............................
McCain may be a military veteran but he greatly exaggerates his accomplishments. He is no better than the 4200 plus soldiers who have been killed in Iraq and sacrificed their life at the expense of McCain and Bush and their manipulation of facts in order to go to war. At least McCain survived and is able to walk around and tell lies and dirty jokes like he has been doing. He is sick.
sorry McLoser you still dont get my vote
Yuck, I know Tom Ridge, what a jerk. Should go with Jindahl. Then we can make Cowboy and Indian jokes.
The same Tom Ridge that quit Homeland Security to spend more time with this family? Is Gramps just pandering to the voters of PA?
This is very Erie....................
And this is the guy who manipulated our terror warning system to help out Bush in 2004. He even questioned the raise in terror warnings but did it anyway like a good little Bushie! WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE BUSHIES IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!!!!!
Better than the ANTICHRIST MORMON Mitt Romney. That is what our Bible calls him and them don't blame me. The only way to the Father is through the son. Not through Joseph Smith. What a Joke he is. They are even changing his words. Joseph Smith was a RACIST and Mitt is a follower of his and lives and believes in his word.
McSame can pick whoever he want but it will not make a difference.
Obama08
McCain was a traitor in Vietnam! A bad pilot who squeeled to the enemy!
He is yet another mouthpiece for the failed policies of the current moron in office!
He does not stand for any true conservative values!
Bob Barr '08
I won't vote for McSame but I will give Tom Ridge credit for 'wising up' and getting away from the Bush/Cheney cabinet in 2004.
That McSame would respect this imbicile is just one more piece of evidence that he is not qualified to be President of the U.S. We don't need anymore of the criminal hold-overs from the Reagan and Bush years.
Bush has destoyed our economy so thoroughly, I actually hope that McCain wins. The next President is going to inherit such a mess that their party will be linked with the disaster for decades. Elect McCain and it will be the last "Republican" elected for years!!
- Democrat for Bush's third term
Tom Ridge is a joke. I did not have any confidence in him when he was the head of homeland security. He was a "player" then and still is.
But of course that's all the repubs are for each other, (and their master
Cheney).
I think Tom Ridge would be a good choice fpr McCain as VP. I like the fact that he is conservitive and also pro choice.