While all the focus is on the Democrats this week with Super Duper Tuesday II, I’ve been taking a closer look at John McCain….and his 25-year friendship with Erie native Tom Ridge.

The idea of Ridge being selected as VP has been flying around the rumor mill since 2000. When I spoke to the former Homeland Security director back in December he told me he wouldn’t be running for president this year, but he didn’t rule out the VP role.

John McCain touts Ridge’s support on the campaign trail often, and he has good reason to due so. Ridge is a war veteran like McCain, and he was extremely popular as governor of Pennsylvania, not to mention the fact that he has high level leadership experience, serving as the nation’s first Homeland Security director. Ridge could help McCain deliver our electorally important state—we hold 21 votes.

So, what’s my interest in the fella? Well, he’s an Erie native, and looks, acts, and speaks the part. If I were McCain I’d think twice about putting him by my side, as Ridge looks much more presidential than McCain ever will. (How Mr. Ridge stays so tan, I’ll never know.)

Other than his good looks, there are reasons why Ridge might not be the best pick. We all know McCain is tough on terror so the Senator might need to pick a running mate with credentials unlike his own and expertise in areas that McCain is less familiar with. Sticking the two war veterans together might be security overload.

Whether or not Ridge is named as VP, if McCain makes it to the White House I’m certain he'll will be named as an important adviser.

OK fine…now you can go back to squabbling over who will win Super Duper Tuesday II…

Yes, we WILL matter. Now that Hillary Clinton has at least taken Ohio and Rhode Island the candidates are moving onto Pennsylvania!

Our state will be critical to the Democratic race for president, and Clinton and Obama are already setting up shop throughout the state.

So, Hillary has proved to be the “comeback kid” twice--now with the Ohio win, and first back in New Hampshire. (Maybe it was arrogant of Obama supporters and the media to say that Hillary looked like she was close to dropping out.)

The PA primary is more than a month away, but all eyes will be on our state. What will the dynamic be? Will the Obama momentum pick up again?

Whatever happens, Pennsylvania - with the fourth largest delegation to the Democratic Presidential Convention – is going to be the big decider in this Democratic race. And whoever wins will be taking on John McCain because he just clinched the Republican nomination.

President Bush and John McCain have had their differences, but it looks like they’re putting any hard feelings aside.

Bush endorsed McCain today after the Arizona senator clinched the Republican presidential nomination by getting the required number of delegates last night.

And on MSNBC PA Senator Arlen Specter weighed in with Brian Williams.

“I think what Senator McCain has to do is just be himself,” said Specter.

When Williams asked Specter what’s going to happen with the Democrats in PA he said, “It’s too close to call.”

The Senator also added that he thinks the possibility of an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama “dream team” ticket is possible.

Watch my live report HERE

Capitol police, the FBI and the Postal Service are investigating suspicious letters that arrived Thursday at the Washington offices of several House lawmakers.

Sources here on Capitol Hill told me they believe the letters might be targeted at members of the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees.

The letters are said to include a photo of the Times Square military recruiting office before it was bombed early this morning.

The greeting card style photo showed a man standing in front of the recruiting station, with a message below—“Happy New Year, we did it!”

A political manifesto complaining about the Iraq war was also included in the packet.

All of the letters passed through Congressional mail security before arriving at the offices so they’re thought to be safe.

Staffers in the DC offices of our local lawmakers Congressman Phil English and Congressman John Peterson told me they don’t think they’ve received the letter.

Check out some of the raw video from my interview with Congressman Phil English where we talk about the politics behind his re-election campaign.

Watch the interview HERE

It's part of our profile series on the candidates running for PA's 3rd district seat.

Watch the story HERE

The US Supreme Court is hearing the most important gun rights case in nearly 70 years, and their ruling could have an impact on the laws that govern the use and control of guns around the nation.

Lawyers are challenging DC's restrictions on gun ownership designed to cut down on murders and violence, saying the laws infringe on the right of citizens to use weapons for self-defense.

Even though the court's decision on the issue isn't expected until June, it already looks like they're going to rule that we have a constitutional right to keep a gun in our home for self-defence.

Chief Justice John Roberts asked "What is reasonable about a total ban on possession?"

Here's what I want to know...How's it possible that we're still trying to decide whether the right to "keep and bear arms" described in the Constitution, is an individual or a collective right? It's an 18th-century document, we've had a few years to mull it over!

Most people agree that the Constitution secures an individual right to own a weapon, but also that any legislation that take guns away from violent people is a good thing.

Coming up with enforceable legislation that can do so isn't going to be easy, especially if the court doesn't decide on the meaning behind the founding fathers' words--something I fear they will skirt around. Maybe we'll get to it in another 70 years...

As the Pennsylvania primary date moves closer, it looks like the momentum could be shifting back to Hillary Clinton.

Watch the story HERE

It looks like all this free time before the Pennsylvania primary is taking its toll on Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

First there's the fiasco surrounding Florida and Michigan. Should they count, shouldn't they count, should they count, shouldn't they count???

Then there's Bill Clinton's comments over the weekend that a race between John McCain and Hillary Clinton would be a contest between two people who love their country. Which of course sparked Obama supporters to view it as an attack on Obama's patriotism. And then to (logically of course) compare Bill Clinton to Joe McCarthy.

Gordon Fischer, a former chair of the Iowa Democratic Party and part of Obama's Iowa support team wrote on his blog, "Bill Clinton cannot possibly seriously believe Obama is not a patriot, and cannot possibly be said to be helping -- instead he is hurting -- his own party. B. [Bill] Clinton should never be forgiven. Period. This is a stain on his legacy, much worse, much deeper, than the one on Monica's blue dress." (The comments have since been taken down and replaced with an apology.)

Okay next...

Clinton supporter and CNN analyst James Carville told the New York Times Saturday that New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's endorsement of Obama "came right around the anniversary of the day when Judas sold out [Jesus] for 30 pieces of silver."

Unlike Fischer, Carville stood by his comments.

So, if the Democrats keep up their antics, will they hurt their chances in the fall? There's no denying that more chaos between Clinton and Obama means less talk about Republicans. I hardly heard anyone bash the Bush administration when the death toll for U.S. troops in Iraq hit 4,000.

I think we could all use a break from this mess...perhaps we should join Obama on his three-day vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands...

If I only had a dollar for every time I've asked Senator Bob Casey if he'd endorse a candidate...

Well today he finally did, even after pledges of neutrality. I knew he would endorse eventually so my question isn't why? but rather why today?

Casey is a conservative Democrat, and well liked in Pennsylvania. He supports gun rights, opposes abortion, and is a devout Catholic. (Obama could use some more Catholic votes in the state.)

As Barack Obama makes a bigger play for Pennsylvania, and spends millions on TV ads in the state, he needs the support of a guy like Casey.

The endorsement could help Obama gain the votes of the white working-class often dubbed "Casey Democrats." Casey is a first-term senator which makes it easy for him to jump on the "change" bandwagon. While Obama is making a stand in PA, let's not forget that nobody actually expects him to win...

So then why now?

Because Casey knows that now is the time his endorsement can make the greatest impact. PA is going to be a bigger battleground than we thought just a week ago, and Casey's endorsement is going to rally the troops for Obama.

Covering Washington is great, but covering Erie right now is even better.

I hit the road early Monday morning and now I'm here in the Gem City. So what's on my agenda? Well, it's a busy news time...

Hillary Clinton will be here speaking at Mercyhurst College Tuesday. Be sure to check out WSEE's team coverage of her visit, and all our coverage of the race for the Democratic nomination.

Then there's the hot 3rd district primary race where the Democrats are trying to steal Phil English's seat.

And, of course, let's not forget the GE shareholders' meeting on April 23rd, just after the primary.

E-mail me if there's something you'd like to hear about!
washingtonwatch@wsee.tv