Joe Sestak, meet Ed Rendell.

Maybe you remember him. Governor of Pennsylvania. Leader of state Democrats.

He’s been a little tied up with this state budget thing recently, but he’s been keeping tabs on your idea of running against Sen. Arlen Specter for the Democratic nomination in 2010.

Here’s a hint. He’s not thrilled about it. A little while back he was wondering what you were thinking of and said you would get annihilated by the longtime senator.

Yesterday he was at it again.

The governor again is making it clear he wants you out of the race. It sounds an awful lot like a demand.

In a radio interview, Rendell couched his comments by saying Sestak is needed in the House, and offering concern about whether Democrats could hold the 7th District Congressional seat if Sestak vacated it to tangle with Specter.

Sestak, who has yet to actually formally announce his Senate run (although he’s done just about everything else), fired right back. He maintained he’s upholding the long tradition of rising to a steep challenge.

“The people of Pennsylvania don’t want to hear that someone won’t face a challenge because it is too difficult,” his spokesman said in a statement. “We should demand more from our leaders.”

Doesn’t sound like he’s going away anytime soon.

Sestak is holding a conference call this afternoon to talk about his recent 67-county jaunt across Pennsylvania to introduce himself to the huge group of voters who have never heard of him.

Don’t look for a formal announcement just yet, however. Not that Ed Rendell is holding his breath waiting for it.