So which will win out with the GOP in regards to 2010 PA Senate Race: Revenge or Ideology Purity?

[LynneSin]

Ideology Purity would have the Republicans going full-fledge behind Pat Toomey, who is as far to the right as you can get. This guy would be Rick Santorum all over again but there's one small problem - A poll released just today shows Arlen Specter defeating Pat Toomey by 20points in a head-to-head match-up in the general election. Sure, there are enough right-wing whackjobs that could have Toomey win in a closed republican primary, but the democrats far outnumber the republicans when it comes to a general election. Both Rick Santorum and Lynn Swann lost in 2006 by almost 20pts (both right-wing nutjobs) and John McCain, slightly more moderate, lost by 11points in the presidential race. Pat Toomey doesn't stand a chance in the general election.

BUT, the Republicans want revenge and there is someone who could give Specter a run for his money and that would be Tom Ridge. Only one problem, Ridge is another moderate just like Specter - ideologically speaking, Ridge aligns more with Specter then he would with the republicans. Ridge is pro-choice, pro-labor and pro-environment. He was popular in Pennsylvania because he was governing from the middle. Running Ridge against Specter would make it very competitive. But for the republicans to endorse him would mean that they pretty much goofed with Specter and would have to accept one just like him to defeat Specter.

So which way will the republicans go? Will they stick with the purity or will they go for the revenge?