Ed Rendell: 'Elizabeth Warren Won't Run Because Her Campaign Is Too Similar To Obama's'
By Chris Stigall
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Former Pennsylvania Governor and Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell talked with WPHT morning host Chris Stigall about his former city hosting the Democratic National Convention summer and the conversation quickly turned to the candidates that would be headlining the event.
"There are a lot of progressives in our party that are very active, who would like to see Elizabeth Warren run because they think that Hillary Clinton is not progressive enough. She knows that her fundraising base begins where people whose pledged allegiance belongs to Hillary. Secondly, two years ago she was a law professor and she's been a senator for a year and a half and obviously people are learning that it helps to have some significant governmental or business experience in selecting a president. So, I don't think that Elizabeth is going to run."
While Rendell feels that Warren will not run because of her campaign being too similar to President Obama's run for presidency as a first term senator and former law professor, he does not think that there is much of a chance of Vice President Joe Biden seeking a promotion if Hillary decides to join the hunt.
"If Hilary decides not to run, the vice president I think would become the front runner and I think that he would like to run, but Joe is a realistic politician. He knows that most of the people that would be for him are pretty much locked up by Hillary."
The only candidate that Rendell thinks would compete against Clinton is the former Virginia Senator, Jim Webb, because he "also appeals to the far left progressive wing of our party. "
With Rendell not expecting Warren or Biden as possible nominees, he is okay with what he feels to be the final matchup to be.
"I think that the beauty of Hillary Clinton, and I would say this for Jeb Bush as well, is that they are basically—Hillary is a left of center moderate, Jeb Bush is a right of center moderate, but the beauty of that is they listen to all sides and they both have track records for reaching out the other side. Hillary has a stance of getting things done. Now, I probably killed any chance Jeb Bush has of becoming president by saying that, but I would be very much at ease for the country if the final lineup was Jeb Bush vs. Hillary Clinton."