NBC "Today" - Transcript

Interview

NBC "Today"

MR. LAUER: Pennsylvania's Governor Ed Rendell is a Hillary Clinton backer, while Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey is supporting Barack Obama.

Guys, good morning to both of you.

GOV. RENDELL: Good morning.

SEN. CASEY: Good morning, Matt.

MR. LAUER: Governor, let's start with you. It's been a long time since an actual vote was cast in this primary season, a long time since we've debated actual fundamental issues. We've had a lot of sniping and second-guessing. Big winner John McCain in this process right now?

GOV. RENDELL: Well, on the short term. In the long term, we're going to be united, Bob and I together. Democrats last night in Philadelphia were uniform about one thing. When this is over, 99.9 percent of us are back on track to change what's going on in this country --

MR. LAUER: But Senator --

GOV. RENDELL: -- regardless of who it is.

MR. LAUER: -- you heard what John McCain had to say, referring to Senator Obama's comments about small-town Americans and guns and religion. Senator McCain said, "I think his remarks may be defining, because it shows a fundamental attitude about the heartland of America." You can almost see those two things combined in a campaign ad this fall.

SEN. CASEY: Well, I guess if I were in the same position John McCain is in right now, where he has to defend the president's record on a war without end, defend a $10 trillion debt and defend a third -- really what he's running for seems to be a third term for President Bush -- maybe I'd be attacking Barack Obama too. But it's not going to work here. And I think it's unusual where you see both John McCain and a Democrat, and several Democrats, teaming up to go after Barack Obama.

People want to hear about the issues in Pennsylvania. We've got too many people in our state that don't have health insurance. I think they want to hear about a solution for the economy in Pennsylvania.

MR. LAUER: Let's talk about the polls in Pennsylvania right now. Governor, I'll start with you. They go anywhere from 20 points up for Hillary Clinton to four points up. I mean, they vary wildly. Do you see a scenario, Governor, in which Hillary Clinton either loses in Pennsylvania or wins by only a razor-thin margin, where she's simply going to be forced to call it quits?

GOV. RENDELL: Well, I don't, Matt, at all. Even before Senator Obama's remarks, Senator Clinton had anywhere from an eight- to an 18- point lead and she was headed for a very strong and significant victory. I think, by virtue of Pennsylvania politics, where most non- incumbent races are decided between three and six points, we're going to have a very solid victory.

MR. LAUER: Well, Senator, let's go to you on this. I mean, let's say that -- he says it's going to be a clear and decisive victory. Let's say it's much narrower than that. Let's say it's within five or six or seven points. Do you think that Senator Clinton can then make a credible case for continuing?

SEN. CASEY: Well, Matt, I don't think that we'll have anything resolved by the end of the Pennsylvania primary. And that's up to candidates to make those decisions. I won't prognosticate. But I do think that this campaign in Pennsylvania has been helpful for both candidates, because I would hate to have a nominee come back to Pennsylvania with not having spent some time there in the spring. So I think it's good for the party and good for both candidates. It'll lay a foundation for the fall.

MR. LAUER: You say nothing will be decided by the Pennsylvania primary. This is to both of you real quickly, though. You speak to a lot of these super-delegates who are getting so much attention. Are some of these people saying to you that on the day after the Pennsylvania primary, April 23rd, they're going to finally stand up in public and make a call on this?

SEN. CASEY: Matt, I haven't heard that. And in my case, I've been focused on April 22nd to support Senator Obama, so I haven't had a lot of time to talk about the day after. But we'll see.

MR. LAUER: How about you, Governor?

GOV. RENDELL: I agree with Bob. I think it's going to go on after Pennsylvania. I think we have a chance to score a victory that's going to change the dynamics of the race. But the race will continue in Indiana, North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia and beyond.

MR. LAUER: All right, so let me end on this. It seems like it's boiled right now down to a race for these working-class voters, and we've got bowling versus whiskey shooting. So based on their performances in those two disciplines, who wins the working-class vote? Governor?

GOV. RENDELL: I think Senator Clinton did a better job taking that shot than Senator Obama did on bowling.

MR. LAUER: Senator?

SEN. CASEY: Hey, if there's any consolation for Senator Obama, I've done real well in small towns and blue-collar communities -- I've been blessed by their votes -- and I'm a pretty bad bowler.

GOV. RENDELL: Yeah, but I've seen you bowl, Bob. I've seen you bowl. You're better than he is.

MR. LAUER: Yeah, 37, Senator -- 37.

SEN. CASEY: I was a little higher.

MR. LAUER: All right. Senator Casey, Governor Rendell, nice to talk to you both today. Thanks for your time.

SEN. CASEY: Thank you, Matt.

GOV. RENDELL: My pleasure.

Source