Rendell: Kerry Too Reliant on Consultants

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON -- Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said Friday that fellow Democrat John Kerry has listened too much to his Washington consultants and not enough to local party leaders like himself, comparing the situation to the failed 1988 Michael Dukakis campaign.

"I think that's a systematic problem in the way presidential politics has evolved. I've sensed that problem since Dukakis," the governor told The Associated Press.

Rendell, a former Democratic Party chairman and one of the party's most influential governors, said the presidential candidate's approach has improved in recent days. Still, his assessment of the Kerry campaign echoes the frustration and concern expressed by party leaders across the country, even as the Massachusetts senator remains locked in a tight race with President Bush.

"Our love for Governor Rendell is unconditional," said Kerry spokesman Joe Lockhart. "We love hearing from him and getting his advice, even when it's delivered as a swift kick. We're pleased that he thinks we're moving in the right direction."

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-kerry-rendell,0,5275534.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[EndElectoral]

1. Rendell's an idiot...I know, I'm from PA

[PittLib]

4. yeah ... He makes me a little squeamish ...

too many pictures of him with questionable sorts.

[gumby]

2. Hack

that's the only word that I can think of for this kind of verbal diarrhea.

[Just Me]

3. Who is your master, Rendell.

Put up or shut the f*ck up.

If you want to be further divisive at this pivotal point in American and world history,...be prepared to deliver pain upon all those who surround you,...and die knowing what you delivered.

[dennis4868]

5. Rendell.....

in 2000 during the recount was on Tweety's show night after night yelling for Gore to give it up....what an asshole!

[CreekDog]

6. I've had it with Rendell!

Why does he blabber all his supposedly good advice through the media?

Freakin idiot. Does he actually want Kerry to win?

I'll never forget how he wanted Gore to pack it in.

He would protest that he does support Kerry and wants him to win, but, he should think out the venue for his advice and whether it will have the intended effect.

Until he thinks it through, I'm calling him a jerk.

[Demoiselle]

7. Great sense of timing, our Eddie....

In a televised interview exactly one day before Kerry was due to announce his vice presidential pick, the Guv stated that Edwards was too much of a lightweight for the job. (Something like that, anyway, it was damning.) Fast Eddie is (and I speak as a devout Philly Democrat) a whole lot less smart than he thinks he is.

[Desperadoe]

8. Just Remember

That it was Gov. Rendell who threw a hissy fit because the Philadelphia Eagles, against his solid advice, drafted Donovan MaNabb instead of Ricky Williams.

He is on record as saying that it was the dumbest thing that any Eagles team had ever done. For you Eagles fans, that's quite statement considering the history of the franchise.