Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell offered praise for former President Bill Clinton's spirited Wednesday-night address at the Democratic National Convention, saying it "was as good as he's ever been."
"It was bipartisan — a bit like giving someone flowers at the same time you're taking a scalpel and dissecting them," Rendell said during an appearance on "CBS News."
Rendell was joined by former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, who also offered praise for Clinton's prime-time speech.
"Nobody's as effective as Bill Clinton," Dean said. "Just to be frank about Bill Clinton, he's the greatest emotional and cognitive talent since Franklin Roosevelt in the White House, and we've had some good presidents since then."
Rendell added that Republicans had tactically erred in trying to drive a wedge between Clinton and Obama in the days before the speech, and, in doing so, had elevated the former president.
"The Republicans made a big mistake, in the run-up to the convention — they built up Bill Clinton as sort of the neutral arbiter," Rendell said. "He's sort of the Democrat you want; Barack Obama is the Democrat you don't want. Well, they built him up and he comes in and kicks the living daylights out of them."
Both former Democratic governors said they were confident going into November. Dean said there was no way Romney would win the pivotal swing state of Virginia, although Rendell conceded he was concerned about the turnout of the base.
Dean also swiped at Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, repeating recent Democratic charges that the Wisconsin lawmaker is dishonest.
"What's going to kill him is lying about his marathon time — I know that sounds stupid, but … what happens is you get branded as someone you can't trust," Dean said.
