Ridge Out, Democratic Prospects Brighten

[jefferson_dem]

Ridge Out, Democratic Prospects Brighten

Former Gov. Tom Ridge has removed himself from consideration as a challenger to Sen. Arlen Specter (D) next fall, a decision that significantly brightens Democratic prospects of holding the seat.

In a statement released around 1 p.m. eastern time today Ridge said that "after careful consideration and many conversations with friends and family and the leadership of my party, I have decided not to seek the Republican nomination for Senate."

As recently as last night, Ridge advisers said privately that they expected him to get into the race, believing that he wanted to run and was looking for a way to make it happen.

Polling also suggested Ridge would be an even-money (or better) bet to beat Specter next fall, and national Republicans had put on the full court press to recruit him -- even having his old friend John McCain (Ariz.) place a call to Ridge urging him to run.

The Ridge decision is a blow to national Republicans who had seen their recruiting prospects brighten in recent weeks. If Gov. Charlie Crist (Fla.), Rep. Mark Kirk (Ill.) and Rep. Mike Castle (Del.) ultimately all get into their respective Senate races, Republicans will still have one of their strongest recruiting classes in recent memory. But, getting Ridge -- a national star if he had run -- would have been a huge momentum boost for a dispirited party.

Without Ridge in the race, Republicans are almost certain to wind up with former Rep. Pat Toomey (R) as their nominee -- a candidate who National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) has previously insisted can't be elected in Pennsylvania.

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http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/ridge-out-democratic-prospects.html?wprss=thefix

[polichick]

1. Republicans might get Toomey, but we Dems deserve a progressive candidate...

I am sure that we'll have one AND win in a landslide.

[Beetwasher]

2. Arlen Better Watch His Ass Now

Any Dem should be able to take out Toomey. Sestak is going to turn up the heat.

We're gunning for you Arlen. Remember Lieberman. And you can't go indy.

[FrenchieCat]

3. Ridge's full statement:

"I am enormously grateful for the confidence my party expressed in me, the encouragement and kindness of my fellow citizens in Pennsylvania and the valuable counsel I received from so many of my party colleagues. The 2010 race has significant implications for my party, and that required thoughtful reflection. All of the above made my decision a difficult and deeply personal conclusion to reach. However, this process also impressed upon me how fortunate I am to have so many friends who volunteered to support my journey if I chose to take it and continue to offer their support after I conveyed to them this morning how I believe I can best serve my commonwealth, my party and my country.

"Public service has long played a significant role in my life. That service does not end here. There are causes to which I remain intensely committed, including my work on behalf of the disability community, our nation's veterans, our national security and the GOP — the party I enthusiastically joined more than four decades ago.

"To those who believe that the Republican Party is facing challenges; they are right. To those who believe the Democratic Party is without its own difficulties, they are wrong. No one party has a monopoly on all of the answers. The more important view, in my mind, is that we remember, whether Republican or Democrat, we are foremost Americans. And as Americans, we have always overcome challenges when we put partisanship aside and solutions first.

"And so my desire and intention is to help my party craft solutions that both sides of the aisle can embrace. My hope is to raise the level of civility in public debate and raise the bar on outcomes that serve our citizens fully, fairly and equally. My belief is that those in my home state can best be served by the principles of limited government, less taxes, competent governance and shared responsibility. So I stand ready and excited to help my party and my country prevail as we continue to work to preserve and protect our strong, storied and much beloved nation."

[CTyankee]

5. I don't get why he is not running. That's a long statement but he doesn't really let us

know why he won't run. He says he is devoted to public service.

I wonder if there is more here than meets the eye...

[DrToast]

6. He left Homeland Security because he wanted to work in the private sector

I suspect he prefers his current life over that of the politician.

Plus, why would a moderate come out of retirement to join this Republican Party.

He also may have some unflattering ties through his security consulting company.

[rvablue]

7. First of all, he doesn't live in PA at the moment. I don't know? Is Ridge a wealthy man?

If not, maybe the idea of selling his house doesn't have much appeal right now.

And if he isn't wealthy, he certainly is no spring chicken and after having served in public office for quite a while maybe he wants to make a little coin for his family.

Wouldn't be the first time one of these guys based a decision on money.

But this is all conjecture....who knows?

[grantcart]

8. No intelligent person familiar with DC is going to run for a Republican Senate Seat

The fact is that you will have to work 80 hours a week with almost daily fund raising and for what?

Ridge knows that the Republicans are not going to get back to the majority for 12 years. All of that time you have no real power and you just are waiting, waiting for a day that might not come for 20 years.

Unless he is independently wealthy, most Republicans would rather work in the private sector and build up their family's finances.

[MercutioATC]

9. It's really odd.

If he had left the whole "my party" thing out of it, I'd chalk it up to him just not wanting the job.

If he runs, Specter (the new "Democrat") has a challenger. If he doesn't, Specter wins.


...so he's saying that after speaking with his party leadership he's decided not to run...even though him not running means that Specter will get the seat.

Odd.

[ArbustoBuster]

13. He probably did some polling.

All the Pennsylvanians I know, on the right and left, hate Ridge.

(Not a scientific survey, I know, since "all the people I know" is a really REALLY bad sample size. :)

[CTyankee]

16. thank you for straightening out my thinking on this. What you laid out is what I

thought was a little weird.

But I guess the bottom line is he is making more money in the private sector. Of course, he can't SAY that, now can he?

[Qutzupalotl]

17. He admitted he hyped the terror alert level to help Bush in 2004.

There's no way he can run without someone bringing that up. It points to his integrity, or the flimsiness thereof.

[Democrats_win]

4. Rush Limbaugh tells Ridge to become a Democrat.

[TheKentuckian]

10. Probably to much the "Lib" for Boss Limbaugh

It ain't enough for the Boss for one to be a hardcore neocon, one must also be a theocrat.

[CreekDog]

11. Well, sort of

:dilemma:

[ClarkUSA]

12. I hope he doesn't change his mind like Toomey did. The GOP isn't going to stop pressuring him.

[quiller4]

15. The GOP won't push Ridge. He would have been a good

candidate for them but he isn't all that well liked by RNC folks. Besides, he is quite happy in the private sector.

[AlinPA]

14. The Democrats in PA can't relax- Ridge may still run. We need to get a real Democrat

to run in the general. Let's go Joe Sestak.

[ShadowLiberal]

18. What's really surprising is Ridge refused to answer a question on if he's vote for Toomey in the GE

The fact that he refused to answer that question kind of tells me that maybe he's not feeling like a part of his party anymore. He did mention the GOP needs to change on social issues in his statement.

It's definitely a great thing for our chances to not have to run against Ridge, very few democrats could have stood a chance against him. The only two that come to mind who could possibly beat Ridge are Specter and Ed Rendell, and even they aren't sure bets.