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Who is Ed Rendell?
Posted 09-06-2002
As the race for governor of Pennsylvania heads into the stretch run, it
is becoming even more apparent that Democrat Ed Rendell is the best choice
for Pennsylvania. Yet, after a convincing victory in the primary election
over heavily favored Bob Casey, I am not sure how much Pennsylvanians
throughout our state know about Ed Rendell -- the candidate, the leader, and
the man. But, as we move towards Election Day, Pennsylvanians will learn
what people from the southeastern corner of the Commonwealth have known for
years, that Ed Rendell has the qualifications, leadership skills, and
charisma to ensure the best future for Pennsylvania.
After beginning his career as
a prosecutor in the Philadelphia district attorney's office, Ed Rendell was
elected district attorney for Philadelphia. Prosecuting cases in a major
metropolitan area prepared him for the myriad of challenges our communities
confront to be safe, to do business, and to raise families. But, it was his
next job that really allowed him to shine.
Ed Rendell was elected mayor
of Philadelphia when the city was facing some of the most serious problems
of any metropolitan area in the United States. The city was facing
tremendous financial problems, losing both jobs and population, and the
prospects for recovery were dim. After his election, Ed Rendell made many
tough decisions to first get Philadelphia's budget under control. In doing
so, he did ruffle the feathers of some of the city's public sector
employees, but for the greater good. His programs and initiatives restored
the confidence of Philadelphians in their government and began to attract
private investment back to the city. His success in turning around the
economy of Philadelphia and restoring community pride is exactly what
Pennsylvania needs now more than ever.
There is also a subtle,
immeasurable quality about Ed Rendell that I believe is steadily making a
tremendous impression on Pennsylvania voters. In addition to his
accomplishments in Philadelphia and his experience on the national stage, he
carries the savvy and confidence of a proven leader. He's literally been
there and done that, successfully. And while he's a polished speaker, there
is a certain disheveled quality about him -- from his raspy voice to his
thinning hair -- that is making more and more people feel he is one of us.
More and more Pennsylvania are now getting to see those characteristics in
Ed Rendell and feel the excitement and confidence he exudes.
In this era of television
elections and 30-second sound bites, Ed Rendell's challenge is to convey
that charisma and charm to the many voters who will never meet him
personally. It takes skill to do that over the airwaves, and I am sensing
that Ed Rendell's television campaign is working successfully. While the
commercials are well designed and the messages are on target, I really think
the selling point is Ed himself. He does not come across as a stale
newscaster or rehearsed advertisement pitchman, like so many other
candidates. Rather, he presents himself with the battle-tested confidence of
a leader.
Ed Rendell's campaign is
headed in the right direction, and his message is hitting home with the
voters. He is raising the money necessary to compete dollar for dollar with
an opponent who was unchallenged in the primary. His crossover appeal in the
most heavily populated part of the state, the southeast, bodes well for him.
Most recently, he even received the endorsement of one of the
highest-ranking Republican elected officials in Pennsylvania, State
Treasurer Barbara Hafer of Allegheny County, who called him "the only
candidate with the proven know-how and experience to be our next governor."
I know that anything can
happen between now and Election Day, and Ed Rendell cannot afford to do
anything but keep building momentum. But, if events continue to move as they
have for Ed Rendell, he will be our next governor. The republican party and
its gubernatorial candidate will likely get more desperate and start doing
the usual hatchet job they do on democrats. They may play up the parochial
issue here in the western part of the state, saying Rendell will only help
Philadelphia. Of course, we know that claim is utter nonsense. I am
confident that he will represent all of Pennsylvania equitably and in the
best interests of our state. Republicans will also likely play the gun card
to try to scare sportsmen into thinking Rendell will take their guns away.
This ridiculous argument will only work with those gun owners who unfairly
characterize all democrats that way.
In the end, as more and more
people either meet Ed Rendell or see and hear him on television, voters will
break an 88-year drought of a Philadelphia mayor being elected governor. For
all of our well being, let's make sure one of the most capable public
servants to come along in a very long time is elected as our next governor.
On November 5, vote Ed
Rendell for Governor. |
