Pennsylvania Governor, Ed Rendell - saying that he did not mean his remark about Arizona Governor, Janet Napolitano, "the wrong way - has apologized for the comments, which were picked up by an open microphone on Tuesday at a meeting of the National Governors Association in Philadelphia.

Rendell had commented that the Arizona governor is a good choice for Obama's Homeland Security secretary "because for that job, you have to have no life. Janet has no family. Perfect. She can devote, literally, 19-20 hours a day to it."

Napolitano, a second-term governor, former state attorney general and former U. S. attorney, has never been married and has no children. In a similar incident nearly four years back, a leading Arizona state senator apologized to Napolitano after making light of her status as a lawyer and person without a family.

Rendering his apology, Rendell said: "If anybody out there was offended, I apologize." He also called Napolitano one of the best governors in the country.

Rendell clarified that the basis of his comment was the fact that former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge - who became the first Homeland Security secretary under President George W. Bush - told him about the job that has to be lived "every minute." He added that it was clear "the job requires work 24-7".

Meanwhile, Napolitano's spokeswoman, Jeanine L'Ecuyer, said the Arizona governor considers Rendell a good friend, and really appreciates the confidence both, Gov. Rendell and the President-elect, have posed in her abilities.