Just as everyone was speculating that Tom Ridge would jump in the Senate race (myself included), the former governor has announced that he’s staying on the sidelines.
But for the reasons I explained that Toomey could make it competitive with Ridge, he still might make it a real contest in the general election. It’s a long shot, but Specter has made very few friends with his switch and may even get a Democratic primary challenge.
Update :
Will Ridge be willing to campaign for Toomey? If he did, it could score big centrists points for Toomey in the fall. Pennsylvanians clearly still love Ridge and don’t know Toomey nearly as well. Some retail politicking by Ridge in Western Pa. could make a big difference for easterner Toomey.
Toomey will be able to raise some considerable dough, with or without Ridge because of his considerable fundraising network and the understanding that a Democratic supermajority will be bad for business. But Ridge could be a powerful surrogate.
