Gov. Ed Rendell will speak at 2:30 p.m. today in the HUB-Robeson Center's first-floor lounge about his bid for re-election.

"The governor is going to go talk to students, not only at Penn State, but across Pennsylvania," Dan Fee, a spokesman for Rendell, said. "We want them to stay [in the state], and they need to know all the improvements that have been made."

Rendell, who will face Republican candidate Lynn Swann in the 2006 gubernatorial election, will speak about his plans for the future and the progress that has been made in Pennsylvania over the last three years, Fee said.

"There are 120,000 new jobs, more seniors than ever have access to low-cost prescription drugs, more children going to full-day kindergarten, and there are more opportunities for college students to come here for school and stay here after they graduate," Fee said.

Rendell will also address issues currently affecting college-aged voters, such as access to affordable health care, Fee added.

Depending on the length of the speech and the size of the audience, Rendell may take questions, Fee said.

"He always has in the past," Fee said. "The governor never shies away from answering questions."

Rendell may also address current campus issues, like Penn State's 2006-07 state appropriations and the controversial Illegal Immigrant Day that will take place Wednesday, Fee added.

The governor's campaign office originally contacted the Penn State College Democrats to schedule an event exclusively for the group; however, the College Democrats decided to open Rendell's speech to the whole campus community.

"It's a fairly small venue," said Eliot Schmidt, College Democrats media relations chairman. "It's a great opportunity for students to come in and see what he has to say."

Registered Democrats can also attend a free lunch at noon at Celebration Hall, 2280 Commercial Blvd., where Rendell will discuss his campaign, his current program and property tax relief, Centre County Democratic Chairman Bob Shepherd said.

Shepherd said he thinks Rendell will also address tuition hikes when he speaks to students on campus today.

"It's really a disgrace that a state-related institution such as this is so poorly funded by the state Legislature," he said. "It does not serve the citizens of the commonwealth as it should."

College Republicans Chairman Seth Bender said he would like Rendell to address what he has been doing about property tax and minimum wage.

Bender said Rendell has brought no tax relief to the state.

"I just would like to know how he plans on helping fellow Pennsylvanians on property tax," he said.

Bender said increasing tuition is an important issue for the governor to address, but it should be a joint effort between the university and the state government.

Schmidt said although the youth voter turnout has historically been low, students are an important constituency.

"This is a pretty big race and important election," he said. "The more people that come to hear the governor, the better."