Posted on 10/17/2002 7:00:49 AM PDT by End Times Sentinel
THERE'S GOOD News and Bad News for Ed Rendell: In the polls, he's covering Mike Fisher like syrup over pancakes.
The Good News is that the Rendell steamroller dries up Fisher's donors. Who wants to throw bad money after good?
The Bad News is that when Rendell racks up Saddam Hussein-type numbers, voters are less likely to vote. "Why bother?" they think. "It's in the bag."
Four years ago, when incumbent Republican Tom Ridge swamped sacrificial lamb Ivan Itkin, only 33 percent of eligible Pennsylvania voters bothered to get their keisters to the polls.
You start with an apathetic voter base, stir in complacency and you're left with mostly hard-core voters and/or those with a grudge.
I like Mike Fisher. I think he's been a good attorney general, he's run a clean shop, he's a straight shooter, what you see is what you get. With the exception of one or two small detours, he's run an honest, above-board campaign.
Which ignited like damp matches.
It was amazing to see recent polls that showed a) Rendell swamping Fisher, and (in a hypothetical race) b) Mark Schweiker decimating Rendell.
Since Pennsylvania Republicans will not allow their candidate to bail like those scuzzy New Jersey Democrats did (poor Bob Torricelli), Keystone voters will get to choose between Rendell and Fisher (plus two minority candidates). The strong Rendell numbers are deeply troubling to a Democratic insider. "It shows they like Ed better than Mike, but they don't necessarily like Ed."
That's surprising to me.
While I have had my differences with Rendell over the years, you can't deny that he - like Frank Rizzo - has a magnetic personality.
Ed Rendell knows the Art of the Schmooze. He's real, he's down to earth. He connects.
He makes people like him.
If he wins, he will be the first Philadelphian to be sent to Harrisburg since Martin Grove Brumbaugh, who took office in January 1915.
It's well-known that in Pennsylvania's Outback they fear and loathe Philadelphia and worry that a Philadelphia governor might "favor" his neck of the woods. It is a baseless fear.
The worst thing Gov. Rendell could do would be to drown Philly in state funds.
First off, he can't make it "rain money" without the approval of the Legislature.
Second, as he's been saying on the stump, even if he could do that, he wouldn't because that would validate the Outback's worst fears about a Philadelphia leader. What Philly will get is a fair shake.
The thing about Ed Rendell - you could see this when he was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee - is that he can disagree without being disagreeable. He has the ability to make political enemies listen to, and even like, him.
It's a rare gift.
I believe a Rendellian charm offensive would quell the fears of Harrisburg pols and get them to buy into his vision, as he did in Philly. That's Leadership.
He became mayor in 1991 after earlier political defeats. Many had real questions about his concentration and competence.
He surrounded himself with talented loyalists who made him look good. He was always happy to share the glory for his success. In this way, Rendell is an unusual politician.
To paraphrase Master Pol Ronald Reagan, there's no limit to what you can achieve if you don't mind who gets the credit.
Rendell's record as mayor is not perfect.
Yes, some taxes went up. (Then he started to bring others down.)
Yes, the schools weren't fixed.
Yes, population dwindled.
But only the myopic won't admit the city BR (Before Rendell) was down on itself, and that he breathed confidence into the people and their leaders (particularly business).
Anyone with a sense of fairness who strolls along the bustling Avenue of the Arts credits it (including the Kimmel Center he mid-wifed) to Fast Eddie's vision. It was his fantasy and he made it happen. That's Leadership.
Lynne Abraham once joked that Rendell has "the attention span of a gnat."
Funny, but no longer true.
Rendell can focus when he wants to.
He lifted Philadelphia.
He can lift Pennsylvania.
I like Mike, but I'm voting for Ed.
Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”
Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”
You've described in a nutshell, the basic dilemma facing conservatives.
... sigh ... how f***ing true !!!
Bump.. This author has been charmed by Rendell, even though he knows that Fisher is "honest and a straight shooter."
Truer words were never said. Rendell knows this, which is why his ads talk about increased funding for seniors.
Personally, I hear these ads and the first thing that hits me is “How are we going to pay for that, Ed?” Although I already have my answer in my 4.53% city wage tax.
John, possible quote of the day?
Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”
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