Can we win PA if Ridge replaces Cheney on the ticket?

[Toronto Ron]

The rumors that Dick will be replaced are on a crescendo. This past week I've read in a couple of places (sorry, no link) that Tom Ridge is a possible replacement (so is Giuliani, but I don't see that one happening). Is Ridge well-liked in PA? How would it affect our chances of taking that important state?

[eaprez]

1. Cheney will stay

They would alienate their base if they cut him.

[Toronto Ron]

2. It's becoming clear to them that Cheney is a liability

Haliburton, Plame, energy meetings...Cheney will likely be replaced. But your comment is germane, which is why I don't think Giuliani is in. Would Ridge not please their base? I don't know enough about him.

[eaprez]

11. I dont know...

...if I agree he's perceived as a liability at this point. UNLESS Plame is tied to him somehow. No one's head has rolled for ANYTHING yet -- not even a clerk -- I find it hard to believe there'd be much pressure for him to go -- though I've been wrong before. I think at this point there is so much controversery about so many things that Haliburton, isn't even a consideration on the inside-- and that cutting him would hurt them more than keeping him. DIdn't say I agreed with that but I think their perception is that he's still an asset for the fundamentalist vote. My opinion could be very different in a week!

[AlinPA]

3. Sorry to say that I think that Ridge would help in PA.

The media would help him a lot. His strengths would be in NW PA (his home), some in Pitt area and north eastern PA. Biggest would be in the PA 'T" (mostly rural small town area across PA's northern border and a swath down the center - very right wing, except for State College)

[AlinPA]

4. Also Ridge was pro-choice when he was Gov.

That would change.

[Dogmudgeon]

5. Ridge is not as popular as you might think

Pennsylvania has lost a lot of jobs since the installation of Bush. We have a lot of pharmaceutical companies, and those jobs have either evaporated or moved to India and China. There are a lot of old folks who saved their money for years and are now watching their long-tended investments repay at rates around 1%. And the state Legislature -- mainly Republican -- is more interested in tripping up Governor Ed Rendell than tending to the business of the state.

Ridge wasn't a horrible governor, by any means, but he didn't do a whole lot, either. There is no love or hate -- mild affection and tepid dislike, maybe.

Pennsylvania is becoming steadily more Democratic, and I don't think that a V.P. Ridge could change that by more than a few percentage points.

--bkl

[enough]

6. Also Joe Hoeffel will be running against Specter,

making this the first time in memory that Specter has had a viable opponent. Combine this with Rendell as governor, and PA should be an interesting battleground this time around. I just hope the DEMs are willing to put a lot of muscle here for the GE.

I don't think Ridge is all that beloved here. He's not a lovable guy in the flesh, and his role as protector of the Homeland has not helped him. His machine-like characteristics are becoming more and more obvious.

[PCIntern]

7. I agree

...and that is also why, despite his extreme liabilities as mayor, it was important to keep a Dem Administration in Philly here because the turnout would have been depressed in many the same ways it was in Florida last time around. Specter, of single-bullet, Anita Hill trashing fame, may have some problems, although Hoeffel, whom I've met on several occasions and really is a genuine human being, is not charismatic, however, he is plain-speaking and if there is a tidal wave of Dems voting Bush out (please God), then he may surprise everyone. Do recall that Santorum had a closer call than he would have liked...from someone who didn't even campaign worth a darn. It was the short-sightedness of the National Dems that they didn't see that he was vulnerable and fund whatisname(?). Oh well...better luck this time.

[AlinPA]

8. Wofford, I believe

[PA Democrat]

9. Santorum ran against Ron Klink in 2000

He ran against Wofford in 1996, I believe. We need to find someone STRONG to run against Santorum in '06. I am sick of seeing his smarmy, sanctimonious, hypocritical face on tv.

In response to original post, I don't think Ridge would help Bush win PA. I don't think many people in PA have really strong feelings about him one way or another. Also, his performance as the head of Homeland Security has been less than stellar. There a lot of jokes about "Rainbow Ridge" and his duct tape and plastic sheeting.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi PCIntern!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Dogmudgeon]

14. A small defense of Ed Rendell

Rendell did a lot of good for the Democratic Party, and really put the PA GOP on the ropes.

He worked well with the business community, and almost single-handedly changed the attitude of the moneyed class about the state. Unfortunately, the cost was pretty high to the unions, but by the same token, he usually managed to recover most of the jobs and wages his actions cost, although the public humiliation of the unions was painful and injurious in its own way.

Like Clinton, Rendell did some serious conservative politicking and made it work. This is difficult to do and very few politicians can do it at all. I'm just thankful we've lucked out as much as we have.

Hopefully, after America's been thoroughly raped by Team Bush, we won't need that DLC-style triangulation. I think Kerry and Edwards' triangulations on "Gay Marriage" are the last gasps of a dying political technique. If we get another term of Bushonomics, the 2008 election won't be between Democrats and Republicans, but Democrats and (political party to be named at a later date).

--bkl
Two cheers for some clever saves, and a renewed commitment to progressivism.

[rhino47]

10. Im from western pa and mention ridge most people cringe

Ridge couldnt even carry erie county where hes from for shrub in 2000.
He lost pa in 2000 and I cant see how bush will win pa this year either.
Cheney is a non issue here .Outside of the fact in the 70s halliburton raped central pa most people here do not remember that.
Cost pa taxpayers millions.

[MrSlayer]

13. Yes, Ridge was not well liked here.

The two cities always dictate who wins the state and they will be bluer than ever this year. No worries for PA.

[AmyStrange]

15. I've heard rumours that Rove is thinking about Mayor Giuliani...

as VP. It's an substatiated rumour I know, but something to think about nonetheless,



great New Yorker Archive for Sep-11 articles and commentary and other stuff:
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/previous/?030818frprsp_previous


d

[mot78]

16. Hard to say, but that won't happen

And even if Cheney is replaced, there's a line of others ahead of Ridge. Plus, many Conservatives don't like, especially since he's from the North and is Pro-choice....that was the whole reason why * turned him down for Veep in '00.