Rendell tosses hat in governor's race

Penn alumnus Ed Rendell, the popular former mayor of Philadelphia, officially announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor today with speeches in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and the City of Brotherly Love.

Rendell's day started early in Pittsburgh, but the most emotional part of the trip was his final late afternoon speech. From the steps of the same northwest Philadelphia rowhouse where he announced his candidacy for mayor 10 years ago, Rendell addressed hundreds of cheering supporters.

Starting his speech amid cries of "Eddie, Eddie!," Rendell noted the highly charged atmosphere of the event, saying "it's great to be back home."

During his two terms as mayor, Rendell received positive national press for revitalizing a decaying Philadelphia. Inheriting a debt of close to $250 million from Wilson Goode in 1992, Rendell left Philadelphia with a surplus of nearly $170 million when his second term ended in 1999.

Rendell has been widely praised for bringing businesses back to Philadelphia, repairing the local infrastructure and improving the city's national image.

During his speech, Rendell made it clear that his campaign would highlight his achievements as mayor. The man once dubbed "America's Mayor" by former vice president Al Gore noted the poor conditions of the city in 1992.

"At that time, Philadelphia was literally on the brink of disaster," Rendell said. "We were facing the worst financial crisis that any city had ever faced in this country."

Rendell said that during his tenure in office, the city overcame many of its problems, against the predictions of many who said the city was unsalvageable.

"Ten years ago, that day, when I announced for mayor, the naysayers abounded, they were everywhere," Rendell said. "And their cynicism filled the air with dread."

Rendell stressed not only the huge debt the city had faced -- a debt which once loomed so large that many thought the city would have to declare bankruptcy -- but also the high tax rates which he had reduced while also reducing the debt.

"You all remember that in the 11 years before I was mayor, we had raised taxes 19 times," Rendell said.

After citing the progress Philadelphia had made under his administration, which he said became "America's comeback city," Rendell compared the situation in the state government today to Philadelphia in the early 1990s.

"They say that Pennsylvania's day is past, that we're an old tired state," Rendell said. "They point out the fact that Pennsylvania is 45th out of 50 states in job growth, and they say the situation is hopeless. But we know they're wrong, right?"

And Rendell said the same progress he had achieved in Philadelphia could be achieved at the state level as well.

"We know [the naysayers are] wrong because, just as we did here in Philadelphia, we can create new jobs for thousands of Pennsylvanians," Rendell said. "We can create an economic stimulus program just like the one we did here."

Rendell faces Auditor General Robert Casey Jr., the son of former governor Robert Casey, in the Democratic primary, and many believe the competition will be heated.

While Penn Political Science Department Chairman Jack Nagel would not make a prediction about the outcome of the race, he did say that "its going to be tough."

However, Henry Teune, a colleague of Nagel's in the Political Science Department, said that with the backing of Philadelphia, Rendell has the edge for now.

"Well, it's going to be a fight, but at this moment, Rendell's the win," Teune said. "Casey has a good name and strong support, but you need Philadelphia to work on these kind of things."

Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer Alexis Gilbert contributed to this report.

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