Rendell: Obama is a bit like Adlai Stevenson

DENVER--In what could only be called one of his characteristically blunt assessments, Gov. Ed Rendell said Tuesday that presumptive Democratic nominee U.S. Sen. Barack Obama is "not exactly the easiest guy in the world to identify with."

In an interview with The Washington Post, Rendell was far from critical of Obama, insisting that the candidate could rally a vast majority U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) supporters behind him.

But it was also obvious that Rendell sees more work for Obama to do, The Post reported.

"With people who have a lot of gifts, it's hard for people to identify with them," Rendell said. "Barack Obama is handsome. He's incredibly bright. He's incredibly well spoken, and he's incredibly successful -- not exactly the easiest guy in the world to identify with."

Rendell also compared Obama to former (unsuccessful) Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson.

"He is a little like Adlai Stevenson," Rendell said. "You ask him a question, and he gives you a six-minute answer. And the six-minute answer is smart as all get out. It's intellectual. It's well framed. It takes care of all the contingencies. But it's a lousy soundbite.

"We've got to start smacking back in short understandable bites," he added.

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