McCain on veeps, war, Paris Hilton: The Swamp

Read More Here: "John McCain touched down in central Pennsylvania on Monday for a swing through a region rich in Republican votes. He took questions from John L. Micek of The Morning Call and other political reporters as his campaign bus, the Straight Talk Express, made its way from Harrisburg International Airport to a downtown hotel. He was joined by former Gov. Tom Ridge. Here are some excerpts:

Q: Is this tour with Gov. Ridge a dry run for the Republican National Convention?

A: [Selection of a vice president is] a process we won't discuss. [Ridge] has been a friend for a quarter of a century. He served in the military. He served as a prosecutor. He served as a member of Congress. He's one of the only ones, the only one, who was elected when I was elected, from a majority Democrat district. He's been a governor. He's had one of the most difficult jobs outside of the president's: making our country safe after the tragedy of 9/11. So obviously, my respect and appreciation for what Gov. Ridge has done is enormous.

But I'm not going to talk about the process. It would be an invasion of everybody's privacy … But I know Gov. Ridge will want to serve because it's the nature of the beast.

Q: What qualities are you looking for in a vice president?"