Ridge says GOP could stomach pro-choice VP

Continuning what increasingly looks like his own personal campaign to be on U.S. Sen. John McCain's ticket, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge said Sunday that the Republican Party would accept a vice presidential nominee who, like him, supports abortion rights.

At the same time, Ridge said any nominee should defer to McCain, the Arizona Republican, on the issue of abortion, The Associated Press reports.

"I think that would be up to, first of all, to John to decide whether he wants a pro-choice running mate; then we would have to see how the Republican Party would rally around it," Ridge said. "At the end of the day, I think the Republican Party will be comfortable with whatever choice John makes."

Both McCain and his opponent, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), are expected to announce their running mates soon.