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Rendell harsh on Wagner, softer on Knox

In a recent radio interview, Gov. Ed Rendell confirmed what everyone already knows: He doesn’t like Jack Wagner.

The state Auditor General and fellow Democrat has been raising Rendell’s hackles by, among other things, criticizing the incumbent governor’s administration for giving out a no-bid contract for computer services. Wagner wants to succeed Rendell, but the man still in the Governor’s Mansion says he’s “full of ball.”

Rendell probably wanted to be more explicit, but he was talking on WHYY‘s Radio Times and held his tounge, going on to defend the contract with Deloitte Consulting as one that had saved the state millions of dollars. But he made sure to note what he thinks is really on Wagner’s mind.

“And by the way, what’s the the auditor general doing these days?” Rendell asked host Marty Moss-Coane.

“I don’t know,” she replied.

“He’s running for governor. … Interesting.”

During the wide-ranging interview late last week, Rendell had nicer things to say about Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox, who served under him as deputy mayor in Philadelphia and is also seeking the party’s nomination for governor.

“He did a great job as deputy mayor and he did a great job in cutting costs,” Rendell said. “Tom is a businessman and he understands business.

“Query whether he could work with the legislature,” Rendell added, before cutting himself off and acknowledging that he hasn’t done such a good job of that himself.

“I think Tom brings a lot of assets to the job.”

Rendell has vowed to stay neutral in next year’s primary, but he is increasingly perceived as backing Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, if only implicitly. Many of his high-profile donors have been lining up behind Onorato.

Click here to listen to the full interview.

October 26, 2009 at 1:01 pm

--pa2010.com Staff

Tags: Ed Rendell, Jack Wagner, Tom Knox

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