Public opinion guru sees promise in either Rendell or Casey for VP

With Illinois Sen. Barack Obama on the verge of sealing the Democratic nomination for president, it might seem like U.S. Sen. Bob Casey would be faring better than Gov. Ed Rendell. It was Casey who campaigned heavily for Obama, while Rendell stumped for Clinton and has been largely credited for delivering her nearly 10-point margin of victory.

But the head of a Harrisburg public opinion research firm says either politician would make promising running mate.

In an op-ed in The Inquirer, Lowman Henry, chairman and CEO of the Lincoln Institute, wrote that while Casey and Rendell both have weaknesses, he wrote, either would help Obama by delivering the critical swing votes in Pennsylvania.

Henry acknowledged that Pennsylvania, which hasn't had a place in the White House since James Buchannan, is unlikely to break that streak this year.

Rendell, for his part, is highly unlikely to accept a spot on any ticket. His term doesn't end until 2011, and rarely in his public life has he played second fiddle to anyone. He has already said he would make a bad running mate.

Addressing business leaders here in January, Rendell said, only half jokingly, that he would "never run for an election again."

"I'm sick of it honestly," he said.

Still, when his term expires, he is keeping the possibility of a job within a Democratic administration on the table.

"If at that time anyone wants to offer me a cabinet position-or for that matter a job-I would consider all offers," Rendell, a former head of the National Democratic Committee, said at the time.

In the meantime, he's busy enough trying to convince lawmakers in Harrisburg to approve his recently announced plan to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike.