WILKINSBURG, Pa. -- Gov. Ed Rendell is defending his recent newspaper comments about senior citizens and legalized gambling that have been attacked by opponents.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Lancaster New Era, Rendell defended the decision to legalize slot machines in Pennsylvania, saying the economic benefits will outweigh the negatives.

During that interview, he said some seniors "lead very gray lives. They don't see their sons and daughters very much. They don't have much social interaction. There's not a whole lot of good things that happen in their month. But if you put them on the bus, they're excited. They're happy. They have fun. They see bright lights. They hear music. They pull that slot machine and with each pull they think they have a chance to win."

Campaigning at a Port Authority park-and-ride lot on Thursday, Rendell told Channel 4 Action News that his comments had been taken out of context.

"I said some senior citizens lead lives that don't have a lot of excitement. For them, to go gamble and lose $20 or $25 is the lion's share of entertainment in their lives, and that's the truth," Rendell told WTAE Channel 4's Kelly Frey. "You go to any gaming facility in West Virginia and New Jersey and you see a lot of seniors having a great time."

Rendell defended his record with senior citizens -- citing property tax relief efforts and increased enrollment in the PACE prescription drug program -- and said his gambling comments were not meant to apply to all seniors.

"The point I was making is that some seniors very much enjoy slots because it adds light and brightness and cheer to their lives -- the same reason a lot of non-seniors go," he told Channel 4 Action News.

Some seniors do not seem to care about Rendell's comments. One man said, "It doesn't offend or insult me at all. I would go [to the slots parlor]."

Others, however, are not so quick to accept Rendell's explanations. "I don't have time to climb on a bus and pull a lever and I think that was a slap in the face to all of us," said one local senior.

Another said, "Governor Rendell, I think you owe us an apology, come on. I'm not waiting to get on any bus to go gambling, thank you."

Republican challenger Lynn Swann's campaign has demanded an apology for the Democrat Rendell's comments in the New Era.

Also, Allegheny County Chief Executive Jim Roddey called a news conference to criticize Rendell on Thursday.

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