Ridge is easily McCain's smartest pick. Who will the religious conservatives vote for? Not Obama-Biden. Plus, though Ridge is pro-choice, he's not the most hardcore supporter of abortion rights in the GOP. And if George H.W. Bush could suddenly "get religion" on the issue in 1980, Ridge can, too.
Ridge is popular in Pennsylvania, well-liked by both Republicans AND Democrats. His ties to the Bush administration are certainly not a plus -- BUT -- his getting out of that nuthouse when he did could easily be sold to the electorate as a plus. I know my admiration for anyone who has left the Bush administration has gone up.
Now, does he help in Ohio? Well, he doesn't win the state for McCain, that's for sure. But so what? It's not so much that he helps in a given state, it's that he doesn't frighten or worry liberal Republicans, Independents and conservative Democrats...all of whom could swing one way or the other. To that extent, you bet he helps in Ohio.
I simply don't see a down side to Tom Ridge. And I hope McCain chooses someone else!
Its not that the Ridge pick will send social conservatives to Obama... He will send them home on election day... and Reps up and down the ticket will suffer. Especially in the South... A Ridge pick hurts Dole and Wicker the most.
