by KYW's Tony Romeo

Gov. Ed Rendell, Hillary Clinton’s top surrogate in Pennsylvania, says only reporters care about Clinton’s contradictory statements about coming under sniper fire on a trip to Bosnia (see related story).

During a session with reporters on Wednesday at the state capital, Rendell (in file photo above) was asked if he honestly believed Hillary Clinton “misspoke” about her experience in Bosnia:

“I have no idea. And I will tell you, I was in Fayette County on Monday night and in Westmoreland County yesterday, and there wasn’t one person who cared about the Bosnia flap. I mean, you all -- and I don’t mean this in any sense of denigration, because it’s just inherent -- but you live in your own world...”

The governor also believes the press has overblown the controversy over statements made by Barack Obama’s former pastor, but also says he agrees with Hillary Clinton’s remarks to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review stating that she would not have remained a member of such a church. 
  
Rendell also says he holds out hope that Clinton and Obama will unite at the top of the ticket, and reiterated that he has no intention of stepping down as governor to join a Democratic administration in Washington.