Former Pennsylvania

could not have planned it better if he tried.

Hours after presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney reportedly skipped a campaign event because Rendell was there with fellow Democrats, Rendell signed copies of his book "Nation of Wusses" in Bethlehem.

The book laments politicians who avoid tough calls.

Earlier today, Romney skipped a visit to a Quakertown, Pa., Wawa convenience store where Rendell and more than 100 supporters and detractors waited, according to Associated Press reports,

Romney's motorcade stopped instead miles away at a less-crowded Wawa in Quakertown.

Romney told The AP he avoided the first Wawa because of Rendell.

Rendell said he could not say if Romney was a "wuss" until he got more information.

He said Romney "whiffed" earlier in his campaign when he didn't defend a gay soldier from boos during a Republican debate nor President Barack Obama from a woman who accused the president of treason.



Calls to Romney's campaign were not returned.

Some Romney supporters said they were disappointed the former Massachusetts governor never came. But between 150 and 250 including demonstrators seemingly led by Rendell posed a potential disruption.

Rendell said it was not his intention to disrupt Romney. He said he was 200 yards away from where the Republican was set to speak and had no microphone.

Rendell said his appearance in Quakertown was "absolutely not" a promotion for his book, although "it may be the promotion of the book because the governor didn't show up."

He said the Obama re-election campaign called him Thursday to get a group of Democrats together for this morning's event.

Rendell served as governor from 2003 to 2011 and mayor of Philadelphia from 1992 to 1999. His book came out earlier this month.