Smerconish: Tom Ridge logical choice for McCain VP

Michael Smerconish, the Philadelphia radio host and columnist, says John McCain needs to pick former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge as his vice president in order to negate Sen. Joe Biden's popularity in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state this November.

From Smerconish's column in The Philadelphia Inquirer:

Make no mistake: Sen. Joe Biden was a prudent pick. Senator Joe has the seasoning and foreign-policy experience that Obama lacks.

He has overcome personal adversity to lead an impressive career. He's both intelligent and telegenic. He's scrupulous. And he has the common touch.

Perhaps most important is this: Biden is an asset in the bellwether Philadelphia suburbs, which will decide Pennsylvania and possibly the nation.

The man who rides Amtrak home to Delaware after a day of Senate business is sometimes referred to as Pennsylvania's third senator, both for his continued proximity and his Scranton roots.

Selecting Biden was Obama's play for Pennsylvania by way of the Philly 'burbs, and it's a good one.

But by making that play, Obama has given McCain the political cover he needed to respond with his best available pick:

Tom Ridge.

Ridge has much to offer McCain. From public housing to Harvard, his narrative is ready for the history books: He's a Vietnam veteran, a former U.S. representative and governor, and the first secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

He's Central Casting handsome and loyal to McCain.

And to top things off, he is an abortion-rights advocate.

Yes, I am including that position as an attribute for the ticket - mainly because the very people McCain needs to reach are pro-choice.

I think Smerconish overestimates Biden's appeal to Pennsylvania voters. Just because the guy was born in Scranton doesn't make him Ed Rendell. I also think Smerconish overestimates Tom Ridge's popularity with Pa. voters. Ridge is no favorite of Pennsylvania conservatives, although he might bring a few independents to McCain's side.

I do think whoever wins Pennsylvania will end up winning the presidency, so a McCain-Ridge ticket could be the GOP's best chance to hold the White House.

Read the full column at the newspaper's Web site.