PHILADELPHIA -- The Pennsylvania conservative community reacted enthusiastically to news that John McCain has selected Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin his running mate.

What's more, those contacted by PolitickerPA.com said she will help McCain's chances in the Keystone State more than even former Gov. Tom Ridge, whose selection they said would have deflated conservative enthusiasm.

"This is the energy that we needed going into next week," said GOP strategist Jeff Coleman. "The energy is happening fast on talk radio, on blogs, on conservative sites."

Coleman emphasized that McCain risked creating a large "enthusiasm gap" between himself and Democratic nominee Barack Obama if the senator from Arizona picked a moderate vice president. It would have deflated GOP activists, who were already skeptical of McCain of the first place.

"Ridge didn't bring the grassroots; he brought a team of political operatives," Coleman said. "That would not have been enough to get people to stand at the polls in a cold day in November and urge people to vote for McCain."

Lowman Henry, president and CEO of the conservative Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, said conservatives across Pennsylvania openly worried this morning when news that U.S. Sen. Joe Liebermann (I-Conn.) might be McCain's pick. Palin's selection quiets all of those concerns, he said.

"She's not my first choice, but a very good choice," Henry said.

Henry said Ridge's inclusion on the ticket could have hurt McCain by as many as 10 points in the Keystone State. 

He added that he thinks Palin's selection will particularly help with females in Pennsylvania.

Coleman and Henry's remarks were echoed by Mary Lou Garnet, secretary of the pro-life group LIFEPAC.

"I don't think she's as well known, but I don't think it will take much to get her well known," she said.

McCain needed to shore up his pro-life base, she said, and this pick does so.

"We're thrilled," she said.