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Rendell loves The Campaign Group—but still hates the ad
PHILADELPHIA—Gov. Ed Rendell sure had a lot to say about The Campaign Group in the days before and after last week’s Senate primary. To any cable pundits that would listen, Rendell would say the Philadelphia-based consulting shop, which counts him as a client, was basically the only reason Joe Sestak stood on the precipice of victory. He would call it “my ad agency,” and say hiring media gurus Neil Oxman, Doc Sweitzer and J.J. Balaban was the one thing Sestak did right.
All in all, it amounted to a raft of publicity for the firm.
But Rendell still hates that ad they made about Specter switching parties. He joined Specter in condemning it in the days before the election, saying it took Specter out of context when it used video of the Republican-turned-Democrat saying “my change in party will enable to be reelected.”
It was always an intellectually dishonest charge coming from the Specter camp, indicative to some observers of how the race was slipping away. Sure, the video was slightly out of context, but that didn’t change the fact that Specter had always been very forward about the political opportunism behind his 2009 party-switch. Backing off that explanation a few days before Democrats voted just didn’t fly.
In the moments after Specter lost, Rendell was sticking to his praise of The Campaign Group—and his criticism of the ad.
“I will tell you that ad … is everything that’s wrong about politics,” Rendell said as he took questions here Tuesday night.
Balaban, who took the lead on Sestak’s TV campaign, told pa2010.com Central last week that the governor was simply giving him and his colleagues too much credit.
“While we at the campaign group appreciate all praise any praise from our clients, we know better,” Balaban said. “Most of the reason why Joe Sestak won was primarily due to Joe Sestak and the team he put together.”
One last time for posterity, here’s the ad below.
May 23, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Tags: Arlen Specter, Ed Rendell, Joe Sestak
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sick of it all
May 23rd, 2010
can’t wait for January 2011…when the guv is gone. he just can’t shut up!
Adam S.
May 23rd, 2010
Sick – if you think that Ed’s last day in office will be the last day he opens his mouth, you will be sorely disappointed.
TheMortonMagician
May 23rd, 2010
Hopefully it’ll be the sports fans who will suffer most from Ed’s loquaciousness after January. The die-hard political junkies deserve a break.
BLB
May 23rd, 2010
“That ad … is everything that’s wrong about politics”???? That ad exemplifies politics. That is the weakest quote I have ever heard from a politician. Arlen Specter’s political opportunism is “everything that’s wrong about politics.”
Rob
May 23rd, 2010
BLB, you are so correct. But this was like Specter’s ad accusing Sestak of being “just another politician.” Coming from Specter, the charge was especially specious and hurt Specter more than Sestak. It reminds me of a comment that former Pittsburgh Mayor Sophie Masloff made in responding to a ridiculous political accusation from a competitor, “That’s like being called ugly by a frog.”
Taj
May 23rd, 2010
I’ve usually been a big fan of Rendell, but he has been getting on my nerves since the Senate election. Rendell supported Democrats like Hoeffel (2004) against Specter…but once he switched, Rendell was all gung-ho for Snarlin’ Arlen. Disappointed? Me too.
And now he is playing the sore loser. He just won’t stop harping about Specter’s defeat. He keeps saying what a wonderful public servant Specter was, and how Sestak only won because of unusual circumstances and unsavory ads. Joe won, Ed. Get over it, and get behind our Democratic nominee.
There was nothing wrong with The Campaign Group/Sestak ad. It showed the people of this Commonwealth what a shameless opportunist Specter is (well…was). How can you take “My change in party will enable me to be re-elected” out of context? That’s pretty straightforward…as was the mutual support of Specter with Bush, Santorum, McCain, and Palin.
wpadem
May 23rd, 2010
If you think that Rendell REALLY supported Hoeffel over Specter in 2004, well, you just don’t get it.
barbara
May 23rd, 2010
I hated that ad, and am glad we don’t have to be subjected to it anymore. Sestak is every bit the opportunist that people accuse Specter of being. Don’t kid yourself.
David Diano
May 24th, 2010
barbara-
Specter would have to spend another 40 years training hard to be the opportunist Sestak is.
delco mod
May 24th, 2010
The Sestak victory hurt poor Ed’s political feelings and ego. How could a candidate in PA possibly win statewide without HIS endorsement. Looks like Ed’s power is waning, while Sestak’s is on the rise.
Or could it be Ed had that Senate seat pegged as his next job……
Bruce Bailey
May 24th, 2010
David, do you have any idea of the bridges you are burning by posting comments like the one above? I have never seen anything quite as sad as what you are doing here.
BB
May 24th, 2010
EVERY politician is an opportunist or else they would not get into the “game.” There is NOT ONE politician in the history of this country who has ever put his/her constituents ahead of their own interests. NOT ONE in history. To try and tell me otherwise would be an ignorant falsity.
David Diano
May 24th, 2010
Bruce-
You don’t seem too concerned that Sestak burnt his bridges with me or any of the other people he’s lied to or taken advantage of in his climb to power.
– When Sestak betrayed his campaign promises to stand up to Bush on Iraq, he burnt bridges.
– When Sestak voted to fund Cheney’s office, he burnt bridges.
– Warrantless wiretaps.
– Telecom immunity.
– Accusing the White House of offering him a bribe.
– Condemning the PA Democratic party, leadership and Washington DC Democratic establishment in his “victory” speech.
As Billy Joel said, “We didn’t start the fire..”
I’d trust Vince Fumo or John Edwards over Joe Sestak.
David Diano Go Shove it
May 24th, 2010
David who is hurting the Party Now Please Pick up your Marbles and go HOME
Fair and Balanced
May 25th, 2010
Campaign Group scored a big win with Sestak… a Democrat beating a Republican in a closed Democratic primary.
Wasn’t Doug Pike another Campaign Group client this cycle? How’d they do on that one?
David Diano
May 25th, 2010
Shove it-
Keeping hiding. It’s what cowards do best.
Brett
May 27th, 2010
Dear Ed Rendell
Spector Lost because he is corrupt too long in office and disparinging of the average voter.
THE AD WAS THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS AND WAS TRUE AND BRILLIANT, THE CAMPAIGN GROUP WAS RIGHT ON!!
GO NEIL OXMAN AND DOC KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, SO SESTAK CAN WIN IN THE FALL…LOVED THE SPECTOR AD TO GET REEEELECTED, YEH BABY!
95 South
May 28th, 2010
Ed is that like “Love the cheesesteak, hate the calories”?