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Spotlight's on Rendell as Pa. could prove pivotal
HARRISBURG - There are times when Gov. Rendell doesn't need a press secretary so much as a publicity agent.
Pennsylvania's charismatic and blunt-talking chief executive is a national media darling these days.
Why?
He's outspoken on front-burner topics of national interest such as energy and health care.
He's among the highest-ranking elected officials to endorse Hillary Rodham Clinton, and he's leader of a state that could determine the Democratic presidential candidate. And, for better or worse, he calls it like he sees it.
Just last month, Rendell appeared on at least 10 network and cable news programs, and the requests are rolling in faster than his staff can try to schedule them, as many as eight a day.
Rendell was scheduled to make his HBO debut last night, going one on one with Bill Maher. Monday night, he'll talk about health care on the CBS Evening News.
Clamoring for him next is Geraldo Rivera, host of Fox News Channel's Geraldo at Large.
Demand for Rendell has risen as the potential for Pennsylvania to play a deciding role in determining the Democratic presidential candidate has grown.
In Sunday's Washington Post, Rendell told columnist David S. Broder that with a 10- or 11-point lead over Barack Obama, there was "no way [Clinton] would lose" in Pennsylvania.
A day after polls showed that Clinton's lead had shrunk to six points, Rendell toned down his prediction, telling The Inquirer on Thursday that if she wins in Texas and Ohio, he was "confident" she would win in Pennsylvania.
"It is a very good state for her demographically, and there is tremendous good will in the southeast for her because of what the president [Bill Clinton] and she did for us," he said.
Requests for appearances spiked two weeks ago when Rendell found himself the target of unwanted attention over a remark about race and politics.
Rendell drew widespread criticism when he commented that a percentage of Pennsylvanians would probably not vote for Obama because he is African American.
But that's exactly why Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's Hardball, says Rendell is his favorite guest.
"Because he's honest," said Matthews. "The whole art of politics is telling the truth, and that's the reason he's popular in Pennsylvania and uniquely in Philadelphia. He's candid. He's not subtle."
Ditto that, says Rendell chronicler Buzz Bissinger.
"It's part of Ed's charm," said Bissinger, a former Inquirer reporter who tracked Rendell during his first term as Philadelphia mayor for his book A Prayer for the City.
"He says what's on his mind, and sometimes it's irreverent."
Like when Rendell was asked recently what the Democratic National Committee should do about the valuable Michigan and Florida delegates it rejected as a penalty for those states' moving up their primaries.
"Shoot Howard Dean," Rendell, who once occupied Dean's seat as committee chairman, was quoted as saying in the Los Angeles Times.
The producers at Real Time With Bill Maher said they phoned the governor with an invitation after watching him speak on cable news shows.
"He's a straight talker," said the show's executive producer, Scott Carter. "Since the [primary] story has shifted to Tuesday, as a Clinton supporter . . . we can see how it looks from her side."
Carter said that if all goes well with the satellite interview, the show will likely invite him to Los Angeles to join the live three-person panel discussion with Maher.
Bissinger, author of the book-turned-movie-and-TV-series Friday Night Lights, says Rendell may be feeling more free to speak his mind since announcing he has no plans to run for office again or serve in a cabinet position.
"He says what he feels," said Bissinger, "and let the consequences be damned."
Contact staff writer Amy Worden at 717-783-2584 or aworden@phillynews.com. Staff writer Mario F. Cattabiani contributed to this article.
Contact staff writer Amy Worden at 717-783-2584 or aworden@phillynews.com. Staff writer Mario F. Cattabiani contributed to this article.
