Rendell: Biden 'speaks our language'

Gov. Ed Rendell told MSNBC Saturday although Joe Biden's inclusion on the ticket doesn't seal Pennsylvania in Barack Obama's favor, he will help because he "speaks our language."

"That's the beauty of Joe Biden," Rendell told Chris Matthews. "He can talk to blue-collar Democrats, moderate Democrats, independents."

Biden can also effectively attack John McCain, he said.

"We've been waiting for somebody to smack back," he said, adding that somebody needs to let the voters know McCain policies won't be helpful to them.

"Joe Biden is going to deliver that message, and deliver it forcefully," Rendell said.

Rendell was one of the architects of Hillary Clinton's campaign strategy in Pennsylvania that led her to a near 10-defeat of Obama in April. When Matthews asked where Biden should start campaigning, Rendell suggested Scranton, Biden's hometown.

Rendell strategy tips didn't end there: Biden needs to tell voters across Pennsylvania that McCain's economic policies will hurt them, he said.

But in southeast Pennsylvania, a region Rendell has dominated in his own elections, the governor said Biden and the Obama campaign needs to let voters know McCain is staunchly anti-abortion.

"He's not a moderate at all," Rendell said.

The governor also said Biden can effectively tackle the question of Obama's race, telling voters not to vote against the senator from Illinois because he's black.