The question I have is, why would Ridge allow himself to be 'hung out to dry' over the last eight months? At this point he has to feel used and abused by an administration that called on him to leave his secure elected position in PA to take, what has turned out to be, a thankless job.
Secure, but also very temporary. Ridge was prohibited from running for re-election this year due to term limits. I'm sure he saw this current position as a means to increase his national exposure and further his future political ambitions. He may even have thought this could be a stepping stone to the 2004 VP nomination.