Republican National Convention

Former Gov. Tom Ridge speaks at the Republican National Convention: Getty Images PhotoBelow is a transcript of remarks made by former Gov. Tom Ridge (R) at the Republican National Convention Thursday evening, as prepared for delivery.

Minnetonka, Minn. -- First Arlen Specter, the longtime U.S. senator and national figure, spoke. He was followed by former governor, secretary of Homeland Security andperennial vice presidential bridesmaid Tom Ridge.

So who batted cleanup Thursday morning at the Pennsylvania delegation's breakfast?

Chet Beiler.

"Naturally, following them was an honor," the GOP auditor general candidate told PolitickerPA.com shortly after his speech, during which he extolled the importance of having a Republican checking the state's finances with a Democrat as governor. "No way I could match what they bring, given their experience and legendary service to the Commonwealth.

"I was actually supposed to go ahead of them," he said, laughing, "then they arrived earlier than anticipated."

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- John McCain's statewide campaign chairman Bob Asher told PolitickerPA.com Thursday that Sarah Palin's speech last night wasn't necessarily the best he's ever seen. After all, he said, he had seen former President Ronald Reagan speak several times at the seven national conventions he's attended.

But he added considering the circumstances, it was an amazing speech nonetheless.

"The spotlight was so focused on her, had she stumbled, it would have been huge," Asher said.

Former Gov. Tom Ridge, originally scheduled to address the convention Wednesday, will instead speak tonight between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.

According to excerpts of his speech provided to the press, Ridge will emphasize McCain's character and readiness to lead.

An excerpt: "I am so very proud to say, 'That is my friend, John McCain.' The next president of the United States. The next commander-in-chief. Ready to lead. Ready to serve. Ready to deliver."

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Philadelphia) Thursday morning gave no hint of the doubts he expressed a day earlier about Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin as vice president, telling the Pennsylvania delegation she brings the kind of perspective to Washington that people want.

"The man on the street knows Washington isn't working," Specter said.

His speech was a familiar one this week at the four delegation breakfasts, reminding the Republicans present that Pennsylvania is critical this fall while extolling them to actively campaign on behalf of U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

"It's the ground war that is critical ... if we do our jobs we'll carry Pennsylvania," Specter said. "And if we carry Pennsylvania, I think that means carrying the country."

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Philadelphia) plans to keep his day job, but he certainly revels in stand-up comedy when addressing a crowd. Thursday morning was no different for the longtime senator.

"I'm always asked what I think my legacy will be when I leave office," Specter told Pennsylvania delegation over breakfast a the Southwest Marriott hotel. "My response is consistent -- it's too early in my career to say."

The quip and several others liked it drew laughter from delegates.

Former Gov. Tom Ridge (R) 

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Former Gov. Tom Ridge (R) gave a fiery speech to the Pennsylvania delegation gathered for breakfast Thursday morning, expressing outrage at what he saw as Barack Obama's "elitist" criticism of Sarah Palin's experience as a small-town mayor.

"Folks on the other side show their elitists skirts from time to time, their elitists trousers ... when they diss people from small towns," Ridge said, seemingly personally offended by the criticism. "It's rather remarkable to me that this crowd on the other side of the aisle thinks so little" of that kind of experience.

Ridge was referring to remarks made immediately after news of Palin's selection broke, when the Democratic Presidential nominee's campaign assailed the choice because of the Alaskan governor's lack of experience. Obama distanced himself from those comments later in the day, but Ridge told reporters after his speech he doesn't care.

"How dare Obama, how dare he diss her experience?" Ridge asked, adding that the senator from Illinois needs to start taking responsibility for his campaign's remarks.

Former Gov. Tom Ridge told the Pennsylvania delegation over breakfast this morning that he will speak at the RNC tonight.

"The slotted me in tonight to talk a little bit about John, or something -- we'll find out when I get my directions," he said.

Ridge's speech, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was postponed because of the scaled back schedule Monday at the RNC in light of Hurricane Gustav.

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- The Pennsylvania delegation's Wednesday morning breakfast will be remembered by most in the crowd for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee speech on behalf of John McCain.

Less memorable, but perhaps more interesting to political observers -- it featured the two rumored leading GOP gubernatorial candidates, Attorney General Tom Corbett and former U.S. attorney Patrick Meehan, sitting in the same room.

Corbet spoke before the delegation -- Meehan to PolitickerPA.com.

During a short interview after breakfast, Meehan deflected talk of running for governor but conceded that since stepping down from his position he has met "many new friends" across the state.