Tom Ridge endorses Jon Huntsman in GOP primary (The Ticket)

Ridge and Huntsman (Cheryl Senter/AP)

Jon Huntsman picked up the endorsement of a key moderate Republican in his bid for the GOP presidential nomination.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge announced he's backing Huntsman during a campaign event in New Hampshire Friday.

"Gov. Huntsman is the only candidate with demonstrated success at the state, national and international levels," Ridge, who served as the country's first Homeland Security secretary, said in a statement. "Jon has a proven record in creating jobs, strengthening America's competitiveness and advancing our interests in a global economy."

Ridge's endorsement is sure to prompt more comparisons between Huntsman's 2012 effort and John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign.

Ridge was a key political surrogate for McCain four years ago. Some of McCain's former advisers are working for Huntsman this campaign, including John Weaver, McCain's former top strategist who is now serving in that role for the ex-Utah governor.

And like McCain, Huntsman is focusing most of his political energy on New Hampshire, a state where his moderate views are likely to play better with the GOP electorate.

That's no doubt one reason why Huntsman chose to announce Ridge's endorsement in the state. Ridge, who once considered his own White House run, is a well-known and popular figure there.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_theticket/20110916/el_yblog_theticket/tom-ridge-endorses-jon-huntsman-in-gop-primary

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