by KYW's Tony Romeo

Former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge was among those passed over by Repblican presidential candidate John McCain, who has chosen Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate (see related story).

Al Neri, editor of the “Insider” Pennsylvania political newsletter, believes that a choice between Ridge (above), a moderate with appeal to independents, and Palin represented two entirely different political strategies for John McCain:

“I think either one could have worked, but John McCain has chosen to go with firing up the GOP base.”

But Franklin and Marshall College professor and political analyst Terry Madonna says the choice of Palin is risky and, while there are upsides to it, he does not believe she is a better choice than Ridge would have been:

“I think he would have been a better choice because he’s proven to be a reasonably effective campaigner. He understands national issues.”

But Madonna says Ridge’s ties to the Bush administration would have been a liability.

Ridge served as the first head of the newly formed Homeland Security Department.