Rendell wins

Democrat Ed Rendell won an easy victory over Republican Mike Fisher last night, making him the first Philadelphian in nearly a century to be elected governor of Pennsylvania.

Rendell, a Penn alumnus and mayor of Philadelphia from 1991 to 1999, beat his opponent, Fisher, the state attorney general, by eight percentage points.

Bolstered by high voter turnout in the Philadelphia region -- his home base -- Rendell won 53 percent of the vote compared with 45 percent of Pennsylvanians coming out for Fisher.

Rendell said in his acceptance speech -- which he delivered at about 11 p.m., following a concession call and speech by Fisher -- that he intends to start working to change Pennsylvania as soon as possible.

"We can turn things around all over Pennsylvania, and we're going to begin doing that tomorrow," Rendell said. "Make no mistake about it, people all over Pennsylvania voted for change tonight. Tomorrow morning... the campaign for change beings."

Lieutenant Governor-elect Catherine Baker Knoll, who will be the first woman to hold that office in Pennsylvania, also addressed the crowd gathered at the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel in Center City.

"All my public life, I dreamed of the day when I'd turn a corner and run into a day like this one... the day when women who have been patient for two centuries will now have their own lieutenant governor," she said.

Although his televised concession speech was almost drowned out at the Radisson by the cheering of Rendell supporters, Fisher managed to get in a few parting shots at Rendell.

"There's no question this campaign ended up being a referendum on the popularity of my opponent," Fisher said.

The ballroom of the Radisson was jammed with hundreds of Rendell supporters, who periodically broke into chants of "Eddie! Eddie!" A three-piece band played modified versions of songs like "Happy Days Are Here Again," changing the lyrics to "Happy days are here again/Harrisburg is in our sights, my friend."

Spirits were high, since polls conducted last week gave Rendell almost a 20-point lead, and supporters grew louder and more enthusiastic as television news stations started reporting results.

"I think it's over," said Philadelphia construction worker Andre Britt at about 10 p.m., before Fisher conceded but after CNN and The Associated Press called the race for Rendell. "I've been working the polls since 7 a.m., and it's been looking good for Rendell and not so good for Fisher."

But campaign worker Manuel Glenn told the crowd that the race was not over yet.

"I'm waiting for the one phone call that tells me it's over, and that's the call from Mike Fisher," Glenn said.

When Rendell finally took the stage to give his victory speech, his supporters were so worked up that they refused to be silenced, with one woman screaming out, "We love you!"

"If you love me, would you please be quiet?" Rendell said, laughing, before continuing his remarks.

Rendell discussed his campaign's success and what he plans to do as governor. He then thanked a long list of people, including State Auditor General Bob Casey, whom he defeated in the primary and who joined him on stage last night.

Rendell said he has "no doubt" that Casey "will lead Pennsylvania some day."

He also praised Mike Fisher for running "a great race."

"I told Mike the best thing about the election being over is that we can be friends again and work together," Rendell said.

Rendell said after his speech that he plans to start looking for cabinet members immediately.

"It's important to find the very best women and the very best men to serve in the cabinet," he said. "We start in January -- we'd better get to it."

Though most of Rendell's supporters left after the victory speech, hundreds stayed behind, hugging each other and crowding around the governor-elect in the hopes of shaking his hand.

"Oh, my God, it's great," Harrisburg state employee Carole Huberman-Tallerico said after the speech. "Ed Rendell has always been a great leader. Once again this state can be progressive."

"This is a great day," said Philadelphia teacher Michael Horwits, a Fels Center of Government graduate who worked on the Rendell campaign. "Ed Rendell is the only candidate who can bring reform, and I can't wait to get started."

City Comptroller Jonathan Saidel said the win is a feather in the cap of Rendell's alma mater.

"This is a great victory for Penn," Saidel said.

And at least one supporter saw Rendell's easy victory as a sign that the new governor-elect should seek even higher office. Gene Stilp, a media consultant from Harrisburg, was waving a sign that read, "Rendell for President in 2004."

"Why not start?" Stilp asked. "He's one of the best people the Democrats have. Ed's the best, it's going to happen... it's not premature, it's time."

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