Despite early start, Knox has done little party outreach

HARRISBURG—Tom Knox decided more than 6 months ago that he would run for governor. Since then, he’s been raising money, preparing policy positions and trying to gain some early traction by touting the need to control utility costs. But for a candidate who lacks name recognition and is a relative political newcomer, there’s one thing the Democrat surprisingly hasn’t done: reach out to his party.

Abe Amoros, state Democratic Party’s spokesman and political director, said Knox had made no attempt to formally discuss his candidacy with party officials.

“We haven’t heard from him,” Amoros said during an interview at his party office here.

The lack of party outreach fits in with Knox’s minimal presence in the news. Whereas other candidates even thinking of runs for Governor or Senate have managed to squeeze loads of airtime out of their decision-process, Knox has mostly been quiet. Part of the reason could be that his campaign manager, Josh Morrow, has been temporarily pulling double duty. Morrow is also managing the campaign of Philadelphia District Attorney candidate Dan McCaffery. After next month’s Democratic primary, the winner of which is almost certain to cruise in November, Morrow will have more time for the Knox campaign.

“Tom is getting himself familiar with issues that face Pennsylvania now,” Morrow told pa2010.com. “He’s starting to do the statewide tour.”