Oh, Gov...We Love Ya' Even Though Your Son is So Unpretty

The price of victory.

By Angela Couloumbis
Inquirer Staff Writer

Gov. Rendell's landslide victory over Republican Lynn Swann on Tuesday could end up costing him thousands of dollars - literally.

The governor admitted yesterday that in a moment of weakness in February, he made a bet with his 26-year-old son, Jesse, while they were at the Philadelphia International Auto Show. Jesse Rendell said his father would win the election with more than 60 percent of the vote. Gov. Rendell said no way.

In front of them was "this beautiful teal Aston Martin convertible," Rendell said, so he took a gamble: if his son were right, he'd buy him the sleek British sports car.

Yesterday afternoon, with 99 percent of precincts reporting, the governor had 2,414,541 votes - or 60 percent.

Oops.

A 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage sports car retails at $110,000, according to the automotive Web site edmunds.com.

Rendell said yesterday that he would somehow have to make good on his promise - although he joked that he never said what year Aston he'd buy.

His wife, Midge - U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Marjorie O.
Rendell - is currently negotiating a compromise.