Tom Ridge

Now that it’s clear that Sarah Palin, on the whole, has been more of a liability than an asset to John McCain, the following question becomes almost irresistible: What if McCain had picked someone else?

“I think the dynamics would be different in Pennsylvania,” that state’s former governor, Tom Ridge, acknowledged a few days ago when asked how the G.O.P. might have fared had he been part of it. “I think we’d be foolish not to admit it publicly.”

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Clarifying once again his comment that his presence on the GOP presidential ticket would have changed the dynamic of the race in Pennsylvania, former Gov. Tom Ridge issued a statement late Friday saying his words had been taken "completely out of context."

"I was asked a question, and I delivered an honest answer that was taken completely out of context," Ridge said. "I wholeheartedly believe that John McCain made the right choice by selecting Sarah Palin to join him on the ticket. As a former two-time Governor of Pennsylvania, I was simply making the point that, of course, the dynamics of the race in PA would be different if the former governor of PA were on the ticket."

The statement continued: "The dynamics of the race would be different in Florida if Governor Crist were on the ticket. Or Minnesota if Pawlenty had been selected. That's a given. I have stated many times, as I did today, that I believe John made an excellent choice and that Governor Palin will make a great Vice President. I have witnessed firsthand the excitement she has generated in Pennsylvania and throughout America and I believe she will help deliver our Commonwealth's 21 electoral votes to our GOP ticket this November 4th."

Criticizing John McCain's response to the financial crisis, Gov. Ed Rendell on Thursday offered up a colorful metaphor to describe the GOP nominee's political performance.

"He's looked like a chicken with his head cut off," Rendell said on MSNBC's Hardball.

The Democratic governor also expanded on his recent comment that he's nervous about the race for Pennsylvania's 21 electoral votes.

"I'm nervous for no other reason than they're making a great effort here," he said. "Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are here a lot. ... They're pulling out all the stops here, and we've got to be ready to defend."

But Rendell said the Obama campaign had done a good job of speaking to current economic anxieties, which would overcome other issues on Election Day.

"When it hits the fan, people are worried about themselves and they're worried about the economy," he said. "They don't care about someone's race, they don't care about religion, they don't care about where they went to school."

And as a smiling former Republican Gov. Tom Ridge waiting to be interviewed shot across the screen, Rendell complimented his predecessor.

"If Tom Ridge were on the ticket, Pennsylvania would definitely be a toss-up," Rendell said.

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- How many times and can you call someone a liar during a 20-minute press conference? Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell tried to find out Wednesday when he launched a blunt attack on what he called John McCain's "consistent pattern of lies" at press conference at an Obama campaign office. The governor repeated his accusation seemingly every other breath, referring to the GOP presidential nominee's campaign tactics as "as sin," "the kitchen sink strategy," "bull," and "a pattern of lies and deceit."

The presidential candidates had barely left the stage of their first debate Friday night when their respective campaigns and surrogates tried to claim victory.

Former Gov. Tom Ridge told the Pennsylvania delegation over breakfast this morning that he will speak at the RNC tonight.

"The slotted me in tonight to talk a little bit about John, or something -- we'll find out when I get my directions," he said.

Ridge's speech, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was postponed because of the scaled back schedule Monday at the RNC in light of Hurricane Gustav.

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- The Pennsylvania delegation's Wednesday morning breakfast will be remembered by most in the crowd for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee speech on behalf of John McCain.

Less memorable, but perhaps more interesting to political observers -- it featured the two rumored leading GOP gubernatorial candidates, Attorney General Tom Corbett and former U.S. attorney Patrick Meehan, sitting in the same room.

Corbet spoke before the delegation -- Meehan to PolitickerPA.com.

During a short interview after breakfast, Meehan deflected talk of running for governor but conceded that since stepping down from his position he has met "many new friends" across the state.

Former Gov. Tom Ridge (R), originally scheduled to speak Wednesday at the RNC, is no longer on the night's schedule and might not get to speak tomorrow, either.

"We're not sure when Tom Ridge is going to be on the program, or if he's going to be on the program," state GOP Chairman Bob Gleason said.

Ridge is scheduled to address the Pennsylvania delegation Thursday morning, along with U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Philadelphia) and auditor general candidate Chet Beiler. 

"Bizzare pick. I just don't get it."

Those were the words of longtime Democratic political consultant Larry Ceisler today, as he described his bewilderment over why U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) had chosen Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

By passing over former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, Ceisler said, McCain will lose the state and likely even the election.

"I think that Tom Ridge would have won Pennsylvania for McCain, I think he would have won the election for McCain," Ceisler said. "And I think Tom Ridge on the ticket would have give the party a good chance of winning the State house back and even some row offices. I tell you, if I’m one of the runner ups … I’m not feeling real good about this.

"It does not help him one bit in Pennsylvania," Ceisler added. "Paint Pennsylvania blue."

If John McCain announces his choice for Vice President at a rally in Dayton on Friday, he'll need thousands of signs with the name of his new running mate. And there's a good chance the campaign will use a local printer to produce the signs. So PolitickerOH.com put together a short list: printers close to the Dayton area with the capacity to print McCain's signs in time for the big event tomorrow.