Rendell's fund-raising legacy troubles some

As friends and foes assess Ed Rendell's tenure as governor, few events better illustrate his record in one contentious arena - campaign fund-raising - than his 2001 trip to see a Chicago businessman.

Rendell was in the early stages of the governor's race. Aides had dispatched him to the Windy City with what they thought was a reasonable goal - a $50,000 check, according to one who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Rendell left the meeting buoyant, but confessed to aides he never asked the would-be donor for a set amount. Rendell "just had a feeling," he told them.

A week or so later, the Chicagoan, Bruce Rauner, sent a check for $200,000. Another check, for $100,000, came just before the election.

At the time, Rauner's private-equity firm had business with the state of Pennsylvania. GTCR L.L.C. was managing $110 million in pension funds for the State Employee Retirement System, records show.

After Rendell became governor, the state doubled its stake in GTCR funds, to $226 million. That meant at least $4 million more in management fees to the firm.

There's nothing improper about the contract, nor anything to suggest Rendell influenced it or even knew about it. (Neither the governor nor Rauner replied to requests for interviews this week.)

Even so, it is the kind of coincidence that has characterized Rendell's fund-raising through the years. To some, it colors what otherwise is undisputable: He leaves office next week as the most prolific political fund-raiser the state has ever seen, and maybe ever will.

His campaigns for mayor and governor together raised nearly $100 million, shattering all records.

"Ed Rendell is the best political fund-raiser in the history of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and he's probably in the top three to five in the United States of America," says David L. Cohen, his former chief of staff, campaign manager, and top aide.

Rendell's money-raising prowess also helped shape the calculus in Harrisburg and could ripple long after he leaves, political observers say.

Democrats were less likely to press for campaign-finance reform with such a rainmaker atop their party. Republicans routinely pounced when a name on his ever-growing list of donors ended up with a state contract, or in trouble.

And critics pointed to the governor's cavernous campaign coffers as the perfect proof of the state's flawed campaign-money laws and the cynicism of its politicians.