The Political Chase

Rendell previews money-spin on MTP

(Update I and Update II below)

Top Clinton supporter Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA) was on Meet the Press this morning and he may have given a little insight to Team Clinton’s post-PA primary spin.

Tim Russert starts off quoting Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) and others declaring a big Clinton win in PA. Russert tosses it to Rendell as you’re saying she is "unbeatable." Rendell responds heartedly with an "ah shucks" type of approach. He starts to downplay their success at whatever level, and starts talking about how much the Obama campaign is outspending Team Clinton. He goes on to say how tough it is and there is only so much they can do when they’re outmatched 3:1, etc.

It sounds to me like this may be part of the spin Team Clinton plans on putting before the credentials committee. We’re more electable and I can prove it. See what I accomplished and was overwhelmingly spent. So, give me the nomination and the money that goes with it and my performance will be three times better.

There’s more to come, it was a rather interesting segment. But for now, here’s the video on the money spin. Watch it.

Update I:  Rendell may have let one slip. He said if Hillary does not win in Pennsylvania he will be joining Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) to support the party’s nominee. (See next update.)Casey was also on the show and recently endorsed Obama. It’s not in this video, but will be in a post to follow.

Update II 5:09PM:  The first update is a bit misleading. Rendell made a big pitch that Clinton should be the nominee based on her winning four states in the primaries: Ohio, Florida, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. In spite of it being patently false because the Michigan and Florida primaries were deemed invalid, Rendell claimed Clinton had won three of the four states, and would win Pennsylvania next. All of this was heatedly debated, and Rendell summed up that part of the interview with: "[It is possible for Obama to win Pennsylvania] and if he’s the nominee, Bob Casey and I will be working together with every ounce of energy we have. But Sen. Clinton is more likely to carry Pennsylvania. . .Michigan, and Ohio, and Florida."

So, while not a direct statement, there is an implication of "after Pennsylvania," given Rendell’s four-state argument. I’ll have more on this soon with the appropriate video.

On a side note, it’s interesting that Rendell is no longer touting Texas since late results gave Obama more delegates there than Clinton.