For Tom Ridge, it's a familiar ritual.

The GOP picks a presidential nominee; Mr. Ridge's name pops up amid the swirl of speculation about the choice of a running mate. It happened in 1996, when Kansas Sen. Bob Dole was the Republican standard-bearer, and again in 2000, when then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush was the nominee.

As Mr. Ridge's friend, Arizona Sen. John McCain, considers his ticket, the well-worn pattern has reappeared.

Despite, or perhaps because of, the fact that there have been no authoritative leaks from Mr. McCain's camp, the former Pennsylvania governor's name continues to stir intrigue and some conservative outrage as the veepstakes guessing game proceeds.

The Ridge speculation has heightened in recent days, and the McCain campaign's announcement yesterday that the Arizona senator would attend a pre-convention rally in Washington, Pa., has added to the question mark over Mr. Ridge, who was also the first U.S. Homeland Security chief.

The National Review reported earlier this week that senior McCain advisors had been feeling out state party officials about how the party's base might react to the surprise choice of a pro-abortion rights candidate -- a development that seemed to point to possible selections of one of two men who were at Mr. McCain's side last week at a rally in York: Mr. Ridge or Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, a former Democrat-turned-Independent, who would be a stunning addition to Mr. McCain's court.

The slender hint was enough to ignite the ire of conservatives -- another recurring pattern in Mr. Ridge's career.

Tony Perkins, president of FRC Action, political arm of the conservative Family Research Council, issued a statement citing "disturbing reports that McCain's campaign manager, Rick Davis, had been making phone calls to state leaders to gauge their reactions to the selection of a pro-abortion running mate. Most signs pointed to former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge. Big problem!"

Fox News, citing unnamed GOP sources, poured cold water on Ridge speculation Tuesday. And in an appearance yesterday on conservative commentator Laura Ingraham's radio talk show, Mr. McCain declined to discuss his decision or respond to her protest of a potential Lieberman selection, saying he wished to avoid a "firestorm" of speculation.

In a McCain campaign conference call yesterday, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani dismissed the idea that Mr. McCain would be hurt if he opts for an abortion-rights running mate.

While the Pennsylvania pre-convention rally site might seem a natural venue to spotlight the selection of Mr. Ridge, it makes political sense no matter who the Republican running mate may be. Mr. McCain appears determined to win the state, which has eluded the Republicans in the last four presidential elections. His campaign has outspent Obama's on Pennsylvania television this summer, and he has visited the state repeatedly since securing the GOP nomination.

Washington County, like much of Southwestern Pennsylvania, is home to many of the socially conservative Democrats whom the McCain campaign hopes to attract in November.

The rally is at Consol Field, home of the Wild Things minor-league baseball team. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 30. It is open to the public, but tickets must be obtained from the GOP headquarters in counties throughout the region.

The Republican campaign has announced another pre-convention rally in Dayton, Ohio, another crucial swing state, set for Friday, Aug. 29 -- the day after Mr. Obama is to accept his party's nomination at Denver's Invesco Field. That scheduling has prompted speculative reports that the Republican will announce his choice there to compete for media attention with the Democrats' post-convention spotlight.