Tom Ridge

The presidential candidates had barely left the stage of their first debate Friday night when their respective campaigns and surrogates tried to claim victory.

Below are statements from local insiders on the debate.

Gov. Ed Rendell (D):

"First, Barack Obama showed that he is guided by the right principles when it comes to the financial bailout. And he showed the same steady and precise attitude toward foreign policy in tonight’s debate that he showed this week in the negotiations over the financial bailout plan. Our national security and place in the world depends in large part on our economic security here at home, and based on what we just saw, it’s clearer than ever that Barack Obama is the candidate to lead us back to the prosperity and respect that eight years of Bush-McCain policies destroyed."

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D):

"What we heard tonight from Senator McCain was more of the same failed foreign policies of President Bush.  As President, Barack Obama will focus on the central front in the war on terror: Afghanistan and Pakistan, not Iraq."

Former Gov. Tom Ridge (R):

"John McCain has always risen above politics to get things done. He displayed this not only tonight, but also in his response this week to the economic crisis that continues to affect every American family. Now, more than ever, our country needs a proven leader and patriot who will accept and confront the challenges we face at home and abroad. Tonight, the American people saw the very clear reasons why that leader is John McCain."

State GOP Chair Robert Gleason:

"Clearly, Barack Obama does not understand what it will take to keep our country safe on an increasing volatile world climate. John McCain, an American war hero, has a solid grasp of foreign policy matters and understands the naivety surrounding Barack Obama’s assertion that, if elected our next United States President, he would meet with our nation’s enemies, like the radical Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. John McCain understands that protecting our country is paramount and is not willing to subscribe to the risky strategies that Obama would employ."

A trio of former governors -- Mark Schweiker, Dick Thornburgh and Tom Ridge -- will help the state Republican Party celebrate its 150th birthday this weekend in Harrisburg.

Each is scheduled to talk Friday night at an event the party is describing as its "birthday bash." It will be held at the Harrisburg Hilton, located a short walk from the Capitol.

Although the party is trotting out prominent figures from its past, the focus will likely be on the future -- or at least Nov. 4.

"As our party takes this weekend to commemorate and reflect on the goals an accomplishments of our organization, we will also celebrate the future, as our party works to elect a new crop of Republican leaders, like John McCain and Sarah Palin, who will continue our party's history of good government," party Chairman Bob Gleason Jr. said in a statement.

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."

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."

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.