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Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge Will NOT Be Running for the Senate Next Year
Tom Ridge, former secretary of Homeland Security and former Pennsylvania governor, speaks during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. The chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee says, Tuesday, May 5, 2009, that Tom Ridge might run against Sen. Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania next year
Tom Ridge announced today that he will not be running against Arlen Specter next year for a Pennsylvania U.S. Senate seat.After much speculation, former Gov. Tom Ridge today announced that he would not seek the GOP nomination for Senate next year.
In a statement, Ridge said he had been heartened by the support and encouragement he received from within the party and that it had been a difficult decision for him. He expressed a desire to still be involved in the party’s development.
“To those who believe that the Republican Party is facing challenges, they are right,†Ridge said. “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.â€
Ridge’s decision leaves Republicans Pat Toomey and Peg Luksik as the main candidates in the race. But it also would seem to increase the likelihood that Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-7) and other Republican lawmakers will give the race a serious look.
Tom Ridge who is very popular in Pennsylvania would have been a very good candidate for the Republican Party.
Now, it will be up to former Congressman Pat Toomey who barely lost to Arlen Specter in a GOP primary election six years ago or Congressman Jim Gerlach.
Technorati Tags: Tom Ridge, Pat Toomey, Jim Gerlach
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Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge Continues to Own Home and Registered to Vote In Pennsylvania
Tom Ridge, former secretary of Homeland Security and former Pennsylvania governor, speaks during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. The chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee says, Tuesday, May 5, 2009, that Tom Ridge might run against Sen. Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania next year
Yesterday, I reported that Tom Ridge would have to move his official residence back to Pennsylvania if he was going to challenge Senator Arlen Specter in 2010.Well, former Governor Ridge never changed his official residence although he currently resides in Maryland, where it is a short commute to Washington.
By making two, simple phone calls to the Erie County courthouse, we were able to determine that:
1. The Ridges still own a home in Millcreek Township, Erie County and have since 1990. The 10-room manse on Westwood Estates Drive sits on 2.1 acres, has five bedrooms, two full bathrooms, one half-bathroom and a cheery fireplace. It’s assessed at $460,990. And a county and municipal tax bill totaling $3,416.16 was sent to the Ridges’ Chevy Chase address in March. The 2009 school tax bill has not yet been sent out, but officials told us Mr. and Mrs. Ridge paid $6,518.40 in school taxes in 2008.
2. County Election Director Sharon Drayer told us that Gov. Ridge remains registered to vote in Erie County and voted by absentee ballot in last November’s general election.
Looks like Ridge is good to go in his run against Specter. He has said he will announce his decision as to whether he will run in two weeks.
Technorati Tags: Tom Ridge, Arlen Specter
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Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge Would Have to Move Official Residence Back to Pennsylvania
So, does anyone think this is a disqualifier for the former Pennsylvnia Governor, Tom Ridge to take on U.S. Senator Arlen Specter?
Political Wire has learned that former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge (R) listed his residence as Chevy Chase, MD on a recent foreign agents registration filing with the U. S. Department of Justice. He reported he was representing the Government of Albania.
No…..well, maybe…….
Specter’s age, switch of political parties, lack of Senate seniority and votes on spending will do more to harm his candidacy.
But, Pat Toomey, on the other hand, could beat Ridge over the head with it in a contentious GOP primary.
Tom Ridge has said he will decide on whether to run in two weeks.
Stay tuned…….
Technorati Tags: Arlen Specter, Tom Ridge, Pat Toomey
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Poll Watch Pennsylvania Senate: Tom Ridge 39 Vs. Arlen Specter 38
A new Pennsylvania poll has GOP conservative Pat Toomey in better shape against U.S. Senator Arlen Specter but former Pennsylvania GOP Governor Tom Ridge is beating him ourtight.
Former Governor Tom Ridge and US Senator Arlen Specter are neck-and-neck across Pennsylvania in an election poll conducted for a state business group. Conservative former Congressman Pat Toomey, while potentially viable, trails Specter in most regions of the state.
PEG PAC, Pennsylvania’s oldest pro-business political action committee and the affiliated PAC of the Pennsylvania Business Council (PBC), today announced the results of a statewide poll that tested whether a well known conservative Republican or a well known right-of-center Republican can best challenge incumbent US Senator Arlen Specter who recently joined the Democrat Party.
In an automated poll of 1,019 households of registered voters taken at the end of last week, announced PBC President and CEO David W. Patti, “PEG PAC found that if the election for US Senate were held today, Tom Ridge could defeat Arlen Specter by a margin of 39 percent to 38 percent. The poll also shows Specter would defeat Pat Toomey by a margin of 42 percent to 36 percent.†The number of undecided voters in the survey is over 20 percent cautioned Patti, and the margin of error is +/- 2.8 percent, so the association leader said the results are not conclusive.
This is the second poll in the last week that shows Tom Ridge as a very strong contender for this seat. Pro-life conservatives may not like Ridge since he is pro-choice but in this Republican Party climate , it is electability that will sway the donors and the National Repuiblican Senatorial Committee.
If Tom Ridge wants to be a U.S. Senator, then he will likely be one.
Technorati Tags: Arlen Specter, Tom Ridge, Pat Toomey
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Poll Watch: Tom Ridge Better to Beat Democrat Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania Senate Race
Pat Toomey, left, is interviewed by news anchor Rob Vaughn at the WFMZ TV studio in Allentown, Pa. on Tuesday, April 28, 2009.. Toomey, was asked about the decision of Sen. Arlen Specter who switched from the Republican to the Democratic party. Toomey was set to challenge Specter for the Republican nominationAt least initially it looks like former Pennsylvania Tom Ridge has a better chance to win Pennsyvania’s Senate seat.
Specter, who announced April 28 he was changing his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat, leads likely Republican contender Toomey by a 53 percent to 33 percent margin, the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute found.
But if former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge throws his hat into the ring, he might give Specter a run for his money, the poll found. A Specter-Ridge showdown only has the sitting senator leading 46 percent to 43 percent.
And independent voters, who back Specter over Toomey, 45 percent to 36 percent, switch to Ridge by a 47 percent to 37 percent margin if Ridge becomes a candidate.
“A former Republican Senator running as a Democrat against a popular former Republican governor seeking to make a political comeback would be a battle royal in Pennsylvania,†Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said in a statement.
But, will Tom Ridge run?
And, would then Toomey then withdraw to spare the GOP a contested primary election?
Stay tuned…..
Technorati Tags: Arlen Specter, Tom Ridge, Pat Toomey