I predict a Democratic sweep in SE PA, thanks to Rendell's coat-tails.

Unfortunately, one guy at the Inky and Mike Fisher have it right (and I've been saying it longer than they have) -- quickly-passed big tax increases and a big sucking sound as all the money goes into the bottomless pit of Philadelphia's problems. The promised property tax relief will, of course, never materialize (except maybe for Philadelphia residents).

*sigh*. Ed Rendell seems like an OK guy for a politician, but I remember the last popular big-city mayor who became governor of the state I lived in: William Donald Schaefer.

Ugh.

Eh, try not to judge before he's had his chance. Never know; you might turn out to like him. :)

Rendell solved Philly's serious financial problems in about two years, by taking on the unions and privatization. Only later did he get into the corporate welfare biz with the shipyard deal (for which he did not pay a price somehow), the stadiums, etc. This guy is less conventional than your ordinary mindless pol. Let's see what happens, it may be interesting.

I know that some folks out there like Russotto fear that all our state funds are going to go right into the city of Philadelphia. While I have no doubt that Philadelphia (and the suburbs, IMO) WILL get a little more love from Harrisburg, I disagree with that sentiment as a whole. The minute Ed starts loving Philadelphia too much, the pols from central and western PA will start screaming bloody murder. Not to mention, the GOP still controls the legislature, if I am not mistaken.