“First Read” thinks Tom Ridge, who McCain will be campaigning with in Pennsylvania today, should be on the Arizona senator’s veep shortlist:

*** McCain’s Short List? We now have what appears to be the McCain VP short list: Romney, Pawlenty, and Jindal. Those seem to be the three after reading today’s news clips (check out our Veepstakes section). One person whose name isn’t on that list, but probably should be? See right below…
*** Meet Tom Ridge: With McCain in Pennsylvania today, we take a look at former PA Gov — and Homeland Security secretary — Tom Ridge, with whom McCain is close friends. (And remember, how McCain gets along with someone is a factor in the VP decision.)… Ridge, a Harvard grad, won a bronze star in Vietnam. In 1982, he became the first Vietnam vet to win election to the US House… In some veep crossover, Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA) appointed Ridge to the independent panel studying the Virginia Tech shootings… Ridge may always be remembered for his color-coded charts (and the emotions those invoked) at Homeland… But his Achilles heel in this process? His support of abortion rights; in fact, his pro-abortion rights stance derailed his veep chances in 1996 and 2000.

He better not be on the list …