McCain: Ridge, abortion rights supporter, still in VP running

By - Associated Press
Thursday, August 14, 2008 - Web Link
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August 14, 2008

Republican John McCain says he has not ruled out choosing Pennsylvania's popular former Gov. Tom Ridge as a running mate despite his support for abortion rights, a hot-button issue that could inflame some voters among the party's conservative base.

McCain appeared to be testing the issue — weighing the benefits against the costs of picking Ridge, who could help the Arizona senator win Pennsylvania. The presidential election is won on a state-by-state basis with more populous states, such as Pennsylvania, carrying greater weight in the results..

McCain opposes abortion rights, while his Democratic opponent Barack Obama supports a woman's right to choose the procedure in most cases.

"And also I feel that — and I'm not trying to equivocate here — that Americans want us to work together," McCain added. "You know, Tom Ridge is one of the great leaders and he happens to be pro-choice. And I don't think that that would necessarily would rule Tom Ridge out."

In an interview with The Weekly Standard, a conservative publication, McCain also was asked about comments he made to several reporters during the Republican primary season about the prospect of picking New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a former Republican who is now an independent, for vice president. The Arizona senator praised Bloomberg, but said the mayor's support for abortion rights would make it difficult to choose him.

Ridge, McCain told the magazine, would be more palatable to social conservatives.

"I think it's a fundamental tenet of our party to be pro-life but that does not mean we exclude people from our party that are pro-choice," McCain said. He called the gap between the two sides a disagreement — "albeit strong."