Rendell won’t endorse any of the candidates seeking Democrats’ nod to run for Pa. governor

Former Governor Ed Rendell is adamant that he won’t play kingmaker in the race for the Democratic nomination for governor in Pennsylvania.He’s repeating his decision not to make an endorsement in the race, which now includes seven announced candidates.

Rendell said he felt the need to reiterate his stance because of complaints he’s received from some candidates.

He’s hosting a fundraiser that is featuring one of the candidates, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz of Philadelphia, but says it isn’t for her benefit.

“Upon reflection, though, I can see how the invitation to this fundraiser may have led people to believe I was endorsing Congresswoman Schwartz,” he said. “Let me be clear: I am not endorsing any candidate.”

Rendell, who said it would be too difficult to choose one candidate, said he’s probably known Schwartz the longest, but three of the other candidate served in his cabinet.

In addition to Schwartz, former state Department of Environmental Protection secretaries Kathleen McGinty and John Hanger; Allentown Mayor Ed Palowski; York County businessman Tom Wolf; Cumberland County pastor Max Myers; and Lebanon County Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz are in the running.

Others, including state Treasurer Rob McCord, are rumored or expected to jump into the race, but Rendell said no additional candidate’s entry will change his decision.