Speculation about Gov. Ed Rendell's political future circulated again last week when he admitted he would be interested in a Cabinet post provided Barack Obama is elected president. However, he reiterated that, regardless of the outcome of the presidential election, he would finish out his term as governor.

Rendell, who supported Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries, has been mentioned as a possible running mate - first with Clinton and then with Obama, the latter as a way to mollify Clinton supporters and also to help get out the fall vote in a state that Obama lost in April.

While Rendell repeatedly has said he wasn't interested in running for vice president and would remain as governor of Pennsylvania until his term ends in 2010, no one really knows what he would do were he actually to be offered the second spot on the national ticket. A federal Cabinet post, though, while a high position, isn't the same as the vice presidency.

Rendell's statement last week was in reply to a question on a talk radio program. He mentioned that he wouldn't mind at all being secretary of energy or transportation - but not until January 2011.

Rendell would turn 67 that month and would be eligible for a public pension based not only on his terms as governor but also as mayor and district attorney of Philadelphia.

Of course, the incoming president, whoever he may be, will put great thought into forming his first Cabinet but will add other members only as vacancies occur. It would be difficult for Rendell to anticipate stepping into a post until somebody resigned.

And he was wrong about one thing. He told the radio audience he wasn't leaving the governor's office early, and "I know that probably disappoints some people over in the Capitol." We're not sure if many people there would be happy with Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll.

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