Ridge says no, but potential candidates keep popping up

Former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge’s decision not to run for the U.S. Senate has sent ripples through the pool of potential candidates for the job. Now, a lot of things are up in the air when it comes to next year’s Senate race.

Former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge’s decision not to run for the U.S. Senate has sent ripples through the pool of potential candidates for the job. Now, a lot of things are up in the air when it comes to next year’s Senate race.

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Circumstances are virtually changing by the second in the race to fill the senate seat now held by newly minted Democrat Arlen Specter. Political consultant Larry Ceisler says possible candidates on both the Democratic and Republican side are popping up now that Ridge is out.

Ceisler: The ironic thing is that the people wanting Tom Ridge they wanted him because he was moderate and could win a general election and all that did that was prove Arlen Specter’s argument the Republicans need to be a more moderate party.

Potential Republican candidates to go up against conservative former Congressman Pat Toomey include former U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan, who observers say was strongly considering a run for governor. On the Democratic side, Congressman Joe Sestak is talking about bring his three million dollar plus campaign war chest into a battle with Specter in the primary.