Former Governor Tom Ridge is playing a key role in one high-profile candidate's race for the presidency.

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They've been friends for 25 years and now they're hitting the campaign trail together. Erie native Tom Ridge is supporting John McCain's presidential bid, serving as national co-chair of the campaign.

"Some of the candidates think the country needs them, I think the country needs John McCain," said Ridge during an interview in his Washington office.

The once Pennsylvania Congressman, Governor, and first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security is now running his own consulting company-- Ridge Global.

"It's quite exciting for all of us to see the way that people react to Tom Ridge, the young man from Erie who has grown to be an international statesman….And with that it is hard for us to see that he is not in this presidential race," said Michelle Nix, Chief communications advisor for Ridge Global.

So we asked Ridge if he has any plans to run for president.

"I've had the privilege of running for office eight times. I’m eight and zero, maybe I just ought to stay retired, the undefeated guy. So who knows, I doubt it, we'll see," said Ridge.

While Tom Ridge hasn't ruled out the possibility that we'll see him in the White House one day, he says for now you can catch him working in his Washington office or on the campaign trail with Senator McCain.