Rendell takes NGA reins from Pawlenty

PHILADELPHIA -- After a weekend in which he seemed to relish the role of playing host, Gov. Ed Rendell this morning was formally named chairman of the National Governors Association, continuing a political rise that has gained steam in recent months.

Assuming the organization's leadership during the closing meeting of its annual conference here, Rendell reitereated that the emphasis of his year-long tenure as chair would be on repairing the nation's crumbling infrastructure. Infrastructure has long been a pet issue of his in Pennsylvania.

“It is not the sexiest of issues," Rendell acknowledged. "It certainly doesn’t compete with health care an energy on the radar screen … but in many ways it’s as important as any single thing we can do.

"Now is the time when we can repair our nation’s infrastructure for significantly less than it will cost us 5 years down the road," he added.

Rendell takes the NGA reins from Minnesosate Gov. Tim Pawlenty, whose yearlong tenure was focused on energy independence. Capping a a weekend in which Pawlenty and Rendell were unceasingly generous in their praise of one another, both complimented each other's leadership before making the switch official.

"It has been an honor to work with my friend Gov. Ed Rendell," Pawlenty said.

Said Rendell: “I think Tim has been a great leader for us.”

Rendell takes over the NGA at a time when he is already well respected by many governors, and as his national profile has been on the rise. After being in the national limelight through the late-90s as mayor of Philadlephia (he was called "America's Mayor) and DNC chairman, he was largely out of the spotlight for years before surging back while helping U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-Ill.) win the Pennsylvania primary in April.

In an interview with PolitickerPA.com on Friday, Rendell said he was happy with the higher profile if it helped him advance his issues.

"If my profile nationally has been raised because of [the primary] it's good because I want to bring the issue of the desperate need to repair and revitalize this nation's infrastructure to the nation's attention," he said. "Time's running out for us ... we've got to move and move fast."