I was tricked into writing this story by the Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents’ Association in the Harrisburg, Pa. state capital newsroom on Aug. 15, 2008. This article is not true. All those interviewed were in on the joke.
By Christopher Wink | Harrisburg Patriot-News | Aug. 15, 2008
Gov. Ed Rendell will be named Sen. Barack Obama’s vice presidential running mate, a high-ranking source in the administration told the Patriot-News.
“Next Monday could be a very exciting day for Pennsylvania,” said Mary Isenhour, the commonwealth’s Democratic Party executive director. She wouldn’t corroborate the offer or Rendell’s acceptance of the position, but confirmed the governor was meeting with high-level Democrats in Washington D.C. Friday.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if that happened,” said Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo, who would only confirm that Rendell has been “vetted” for the position. “But the Obama people would have to make that announcement.”
Rendell was thrust into the national spotlight in April, during the lead up to the Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primaary as he became de factor spokesman for Hillary Clinton – Obama’s chief competition. He was a frequent contributor to network and cable news discussions of Clinton’s policy, so much so that he warranted features in Times and Newsweek magazines in recent months.
The former two-term Philadelphia mayor came to the governor’s mansion in 2003, after beating Pittsburgh judge Mike Fisher. Rendell won reelection by beating former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann in 2006.
Tom Ridge, a Rendell gubernatorial predecessor, has also been describe as a possible vice presidential candidate but for Republican John McCain.
As recent as late July Rendell stated frankly that he wasn’t being considered to be Obama’s running mate.
“I haven’t been contacted by anybody – showing that the Obama campaign has good sense,” Rendell said last month. He professed Obama needed a running mate with more foreign policy experience, but pledged to campaign for Obama in Pennsylvania with the same fervor he for Clinton during the primary.
“I think we are going to carry Pennsylvania,” Rendell said then. “I hope to be a part of that.”
Photo courtesy of Day Life.
