No hint on Ridge vice president nod

YORK -- U.S. Sen. John McCain on Tuesday afternoon declined to answer perhaps one of the biggest questions on the minds of Keystone State voters.

Are you going to pick former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge (R) as your vice president?

"We can't talk about him as vice president," McCain told PolitickerPA.com and other local reporters gathered in the Straight Talk Express after his town hall meeting in York.

He and his campaign don't talk about any potential vice presidential candidates, he added.

Ridge did accompany McCain along much of his trip in Pennsylvania this week, although the two friends parted ways after Ridge spoke at Tuesday's event. The former governor is one of many public officials constantly rumored to be a potential McCain running mate.

Ridge's inclusion on the ticket could give McCain a boost in Pennsylvania, where the still popular former governor could help him overcome his near double-digit deficit. McCain himself admitted he's an underdog here.

So if he can't answer it, is he tired of being asked the question?

"I don't blame you for asking," McCain said, laughing, "but I hope you don't blame me for not answering."