After many years in the political shadows of other large states, Pennsylvania will be the largest Republican state in the country with members of the GOP in the governor's office and in the majority in both houses of the legislature.

For years Pennsylvania has been a "political backwater," said Michael Young, director of the Center for Survey Research at Penn State Harrisburg. The state was not watched much until Democrat Harris Wofford's victory in the 1989 race for U.S. senator, Young said.

Following a nationwide Republican revolution, Governor-elect Tom Ridge will have the chance to put Pennsylvania back on the political map.

"Ridge has an opportunity to project himself and his administration into the national spotlight," Young said. "It's a very trendy time to be a Republican."

However the switch in party alignment may not change Pennsylvania's political landscape too dramatically because Ridge's fiscal conservatism is similar to current Gov. Robert P. Casey's, Young said.

"The differences are shades of gray," he said. Ridge is likely to be less friendly to labor, to be more friendly to business and to put less of an emphasis on social programs, he said.

However, Centre County Republican Committee Chairman Jack Madore said a fully Republican state government could bring significant changes.

"I think you have to look at the things that Tom Ridge ran on," Madore said.

The Republican government is likely to cut down on regulation, reduce paper shuffling, reform welfare, revamp the Department of Environmental Resources and especially work toward making Pennsylvania more conducive to employment, he said.

"We haven't been very job friendly, not only in attracting new jobs, but also in keeping the employers that we have," Madore said.

Although he is not sure Pennsylvania will be the leader in making those changes, Madore said the state will be part of a potential nationwide change in policy.

"Whether we're going to be the trail blazers, I don't know," he said. "I think your're going to see a broom sweep up the messes that have been left in Washington and Harrisburg."

Despite the Republican majority in both houses, Tim Reeves, Ridge's press secretary, said passing the governor's legislation will not definitely be easy.

"For some things (the majority) does make it easier," Reeves said. "Other things you can say it makes it more difficult."

A major concern is the precarious situation in the state House of Representatives where the Republicans achieved their majority when a Democratic legislator changed his party affiliation, Reeves said.

"The tumult surrounding (the House)," he said, "is a distraction I know the governor would rather not have."

Another concern is that splits in the Republican Party will make legislation difficult to pass, Reeves said.

Anyone who is under the impression that Ridge's job will be made easier is mistaken, he said.