The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Friday, November 3, 2000

MERCER

GOP bus tour stops here

By Tom Fontaine
Herald Staff Writer

With the presidential race in Pennsylvania still a toss-up and Al Gore campaigning in Scranton this week, Gov. Tom Ridge’s cross-state bus tour supporting George W. Bush continued in the western half of the state Thursday with a stop at the Mercer County Courthouse.

Ridge -- a 21st District congressman before he became governor and earlier this year a possible vice presidential candidate -- was greeted outside the courthouse by more than 200 people, music and a sea of signs.

"I’m back home with my friends," Ridge said.

Ridge made only one prediction during the Republican rally, and it wasn’t on the close presidential race.

Ridge predicted Grove City College football standout R.J. Bowers, who joined him on the podium and who last week eclipsed college football’s all-time rushing record, would rush for 479 more yards in his last two games. After the speech, Bowers, a West Middlesex native, humbly said: "It could be done."

Ridge said he didn’t know which candidate would win on Nov. 7 or which one would carry Pennsylvania, a major prize with 23 electoral votes still up for grabs. But Ridge said he was "Exhibit A" of a Republican who could carry the state, adding Bush could become "Exhibit B."

Ridge described Gore as a big-government candidate who would spend three times more than President Clinton spent in his first term. Gore’s targeted tax cut excludes millions and his commitment to the present Social Security system could jeopardize benefits to younger workers, he added.

Ridge said Bush’s tax cut includes everyone who pays taxes and his Social Security plan, which would allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll taxes in the market, would maintain current and future benefits. "It’s your money. It’s not the government’s," he said.

Ridge said Gore "tries to divide a country in order to lead it. Al Gore pits my mother against my kids to get my vote. That gets me riled up." Ridge added: "All they (Democrats) do is talk, talk, talk. Republicans are busy solving problems."

Ridge said a Gore phone campaign by actor Ed Asner, tries to "scare seniors" on issues like Social Security and Medicare and prescription drugs. "They ought to keep this retread Hollywood liberal in Hollywood," Ridge said. "Where would he be anyway without Mary Tyler Moore?"

Ridge encouraged voters, even those gathered on one side of the crowd holding signs supporting Gore and vice presidential nominee Joe Liebermann, to vote on Nov. 7. "We need to get out the vote," Ridge said. He then turned to the Democratic sign-wavers and said, "You didn’t hear that, did you?"

Numerous other GOP officials and candidates were on stage Thursday.

Alan Novak, chairman of the GOP state committee, also urged people to vote. He said Ridge’s bus tour was called the "Leave No One Behind Tour." Its message, he added, was "Leave No Vote at Home."

Katie True, auditor general candidate, made a prediction. She told the GOP supporters, "Help is on the way. We’re gonna take Pennsylvania big time."

State Sen. Bob Robbins introduced Ridge, and state House candidates Jack Kopen (7th District) and Dick Stevenson (8th District) also spoke. Mercer County Republican Chairman David O. King and Mercer County Commissioner Brian Shipley served as de facto emcees.



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