send to a friend | print | comment

Rendell endorses Saidel for Lt. Gov.

Gov. Ed Rendell formally endorsed Jonathan Saidel for Lieutenant Governor on Tuesday night, saying “Philadelphia would not have turned around in the 90s without Jonathan Saidel’s leadership.”

The endorsement, delivered by a video message during a campaign fundraiser in Philadelphia, put the full weight of the state’s Democratic Party behind Saidel’s candidacy. Rendell’s support had largely been assumed for months—the two are longtime allies, and the state party endorsed Saidel on a standing voice vote during its meeting in February. But Rendell had nonetheless had publicly stayed quiet himself, and there was briefly speculation that he favored a gubernatorial ticket with Chris Doherty complementing Dan Onorato. Saidel has long been the overwhelming front-runner in the three-way primary, and whatever little doubt remained about where Rendell stands was put to rest.

“Jon, because he’s got such a great personality and is one of the most naturally funny people you’ll ever meet, people have a tendency to focus on that,” Rendell said. “Sometimes they have a tendency to forget what a tremendously substantive and intelligent person he is.”

A Saidel aide said the campaign, which has bested some top-ticket gubernatorial candidates in fundraising, raked in another $150,000 during the fundraiser. He faces retired Commonwealth Court Judge Doris Smith-Ribner and state Representative Scott Conklin (D-Centre) in the May 18 primary.

“I think he’ll go down as one of the most productive Lieutenant Governors in the recent history of the state of Pennsylvania,” Rendell said of Saidel.

See Rendell’s video endorsement below.

May 5, 2010 at 8:00 am

--pa2010.com Staff

Tags: Ed Rendell, Jonathan Saidel, Lt. Gov.

comments

comments [3] | post a comment