While this is coming from Bob Novak’s column, I found it very interesting nonetheless. I would still guess that Rendell won’t challenge Specter because (1) they are friends; and (2) I am not sure the Senate would be Rendell’s cup of tea.
That being said, 2010 is a long ways away, plus Rendell realizes that after he leaves Harrisburg, he will be out of office completely. It would certainly be a great opening, and there is no doubt Rendell would be our best possible nominee. Besides, given Specter’s age, all of his talk about definitely running may just be bluster.
SPECTER’S OPPONENT?
Pennsylvania’s popular Democratic Gov. Edward Rendell is reported by party sources to be considering a race for the Senate in 2010 even if his friend and fellow Philadelphian, Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, seeks re-election.
Specter has indicated that he wants a sixth term in the Senate, but that may depend on his health. He is suffering from a recurrence of cancer.
Republican insiders believe that Specter might decide to run as an independent if conservatives launch another serious Republican primary campaign against him, as they did in 2004. A three-way election would all but guarantee the election of a Democrat.
Obviously he could make this a top tier race, but all sources I’ve heard have said there is no chance he’d run. Hopefully he does.
Simply not happening. Rendell could have had a lot more then that if he wanted it. But I think he’s done after 2010.
If he’d pushed I think he could have been Kerry’s VP. He didn’t push. He’s done after 2010.
I hope Patrick Murphy runs. He’s awesome.
I really doubt that Rendell would want to become a senator – he’s said many times he wouldn’t want to. Also, Rendell has been a mediocre governor. I don’t like him very much. Representative Allyson Schwartz looks like the establishment choice at this time (and is there any other kind of choice in Pennsylvania?). She belongs to the New Democrat caucus, and she has voted for Iraq War funding. Otherwise, she’s a pretty good Democrat. We need more of a real Progressive bench in Pennsylvania.
I think the Republicans are going to have a hard time holding this seat in 2010 if Schwartz or any other southeastern Democrat runs. Specter only wins because of his “moderate” southeastern base. Recent trends show that Specter might be hard pressed winning southeastern moderates against a homegrown Democrat. The conservative base hates Specter of course. Specter does not have much appeal among the Pennsylvania Hillary Democrats we’ve heard so much about; Allyson Schwartz would win those voters.
Once you find the Dufresnes!
Ahh, Mitch Hedberg:
My gut has always been that Rendell won’t run for this seat. I felt the same way when people mentioned Richardson’s name as a challenger to Pete Dominici last year when the ethics scandal broke. A lot of these huge time govenors who are the kings of their states view being a Senator as a step down. I know Richardson felt this way — as his ego is the size of Jupiter — and I bet Rendell does too, to a lesser extent.
That being said, I think Rendell would be more likely to run than Richardson was. He is a bit older, yes, but he knows unless Obama gives him a cabinet position, this avenue will likely be closed if he does not go for it — assuming Casey doesn’t run for governor himself in 2010.
But let’s not kid ourselves. Rendell is well liked in Pennsylvania and is a larger than life figure there. He is the best nominee we could put up against Specter. Schwartz would be a good nominee, but would be an underdog. Arlen is not nearly as hated as some here may want to believe. I know several Democrats who like and respect him. The way to beat longtime state institutions is with a rockstar candidate in the state. That is how Carper beat Roth in 2000. If Rendell does not go for it, Murphy and Sestak would be strong possibilities, and a dark horse, at least to me, could be Tim Holden, the moderate longtime Rep who ousted George Gekas in a big upset in 2002 after redistricting.
There are already rumors of nutter Toomey giving him another primary in 2010 if he even runs. Considering republicans are getting less tolerant of moderate office holders he could definately lose a primary.
chris matthews wants to run for this seat too, and what chris wants chris gets.
There’s a lot of resentment out here where I live. Rendell is viewed as the political power that makes it possible for Philadelphia to “loot” the state tax base (not my opinion; I’m reporting what I hear at work and in the supermarket aisles) to pump money into urban transportation ‘at the expense of’ the rest of the state. When I retort that urban tourism helps the whole state’s economy, and that metropolitan centers become unworkable for rural Pennsylvanians who want to shop or visit if there’s no public transportation, the don’t buy it.
My own idle dream: Rendell uses his local popularity to run for and win a single term against Jim Gerlach (R-PA-06), then retires. We could hold that seat if we could get the incumbent out.
However, I recognize that the scenario, however politically expedient for the PA Party, is inconceivable. Governors don’t run for Congress, even governors whose main power base is relatively localized.