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When Teamsters and demonstrators clashed during a Bill Clinton-attended money-raiser in Philadelphia in 1998, few could have predicted the melee might affect the Pennsylvania governor's race four years later.

But Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ed Rendell could be forced off the campaign trail this fall to defend himself in a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by two protesters injured in the altercation. Rendell was Philadelphia mayor at the time.

Rendell faces Republican state Attorney General Mike Fisher in the governor's race. Any effect the trial might have on the campaign won't be known until the proceedings begin Oct. 4 before U.S. District Judge Bruce Kauffman in Philadelphia.

"We don't consider it to be a potential distraction at all," Rendell spokesman Dan Fee said. "The fact of the matter is, Ed had nothing to do with the beating of those people and in fact has done everything he can to support them."

Fisher spokesman Kevin Harley declined comment on the trial's potential ramifications on the race.

Don Adams, 41, of Cheltenham, Montgomery County, and his sister, Teri Adams, were beaten by Teamsters outside a Democratic money-raiser attended by Clinton at Philadelphia's City Hall in October 1998. The pair were protesting the presence of the president, who was entangled in the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Five Teamsters were placed on probation after pleading guilty to assaulting the Adamses in the attack, filmed by TV newsmen.

The Adamses filed a federal lawsuit in October 1999 against Teamsters Local 115, Rendell and Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham in connection with the beating. Former Local 115 boss John Morris, who died in April, also was a defendant.

The lawsuit alleges Rendell violated the Adamses' First Amendment rights by conspiring with Morris and the Teamsters to quell any peaceful protesters during Clinton's visit to Philadelphia.

The litigation also contends that Rendell bears partial responsibility for the attack because he invited the Teamsters to rally in support of Clinton that day. The lawsuit further contends that Rendell, who became Democratic National Committee chairman shortly after the rally, was attempting to curry favor with Clinton.

Representing the Adamses is Judicial Watch, a Washington, D.C.-based law firm that frequently files lawsuits against well-known politicians of both major political parties.

Judicial Watch has filed numerous lawsuits alleging various wrongdoings by Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York. In July, Judicial Watch sued Vice President Dick Cheney and directors of the Halliburton energy services company. The lawsuit alleges that fraudulent accounting practices by the company led its stock to be overvalued and investors and others to be deceived.

Judicial Watch last year received funding from the Carthage Foundation, whose chairman is Tribune-Review owner Richard M. Scaife.

Judicial Watch President Larry Klayman said Rendell is a defendant in the Adams lawsuit because "These people did not deserve to be beaten severely, beaten to the point where their lives were in jeopardy. (Rendell) invited the (Teamsters) onto the premises knowing they were dangerous individuals. He knew, or should have known, that he was dealing with potentially lethal weapons."

Rendell has been deposed twice in the Adams case. A videotape of a June pre-trial proceeding shows Rendell often losing his temper at Klayman's questions and frequently threatening to walk out. Rendell and Adams also had a verbal confrontation during a break in the questioning.

Rendell's patience was tried when he was asked if he was disgusted by Clinton's sexual escapades with Lewinsky, a White House intern; if the Teamsters have a significant history with organized crime; and if he was aware that Teamsters were rumored to have been involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Klayman said Rendell will be called to the witness stand during the trial, which could cost him valuable campaign time.

Rendell spokesman Fee said the Rendell camp hasn't discussed seeking the trial's postponement until after the Nov. 5 election. He indicated any determination to request a delay would not come from the campaign.

"That's a decision to be made by the lawyers, not us," Fee said.

Political experts suggest that any Rendell attempt to put off the trial would be a mistake.

"If he appears to be actively working on a delay, you guys (the media) are going to write about that," said G. Terry Madonna, a political science professor at Millersville University in Lancaster County. "I think Rendell would be well advised to have his day in court and get it over with."

"It's something you would rather have happen after the election," said Joseph Sabino Mistick, a political analyst and Duquesne University law professor. "But if you ask for a delay, it looks like you are trying to hide something."

Klayman said he would fight any attempt to postpone the trial.

Potentially damaging to Rendell's defense is an Aug. 2 sworn declaration by Kevin J. Woodring Jr., once the top assistant to Morris, the late Teamsters official. The statement contradicts Rendell's version of a phone conversation he had with Morris a few days after the attacks.

Rendell said in a June 14 deposition that he told Morris that he was angry with him. "I told him that he had ruined what should have been a good show of support for President Clinton," Rendell said.

Woodring, whose duties included listening in on Morris' phone conversations and taking notes on the discussions, said that at no time during the Oct. 5, 1998, phone call did Rendell tell Morris he was angry with him. Nor did Rendell mention that the Teamsters' actions ruined Clinton's appearance, Woodring said.

Woodring said Rendell promised that Philadelphia Police Commissioner John F. Timoney would personally interview two women that the Teamsters' Morris claimed had been assaulted by Don Adams. In the June 14 deposition, Rendell denied sending Timoney.

According to Woodring, Morris fabricated that alleged assault by Adams to deflect blame on Adams and away from the Teamsters.

Woodring said Rendell did bring up the Teamsters' option of filing a criminal complaint against Adams. A short time later, Morris instructed Teamsters attorney Norton Brainard to have Teamsters Heather Diocson and Sharon Hopkins file a complaint against Adams, Woodring said.

Adams was acquitted of assault, reckless endangerment and harassment in July 1999.

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