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Why is everyone trying to run Pat Meehan out of the governor’s race?

On the issue of Pat Meehan and why everyone seems to be trying to squeeze him out of the Republican gubernatorial primary: Why?

Ever since Arlen Specter switched parties, putting U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey at the top of the GOP ticket, Meehan has become a cross between the GOP whipping boy and understudy.

It’s like Meehan isn’t allowed to run for governor because… why?

Because Tom Corbett is the front-runner? What if the state Attorney General sees his Bonusgate investigation fizzle? There will be no trials until January. There may not be any convictions. What would that mean for a Corbett gubernatorial candidacy?

And now somehow Meehan is supposed to step aside and run for lieutenant governor or run for Joe Sestak’s Congressional seat in the 7th District, because Congressman Jim Gerlach has announced he’s running for governor?

The idea there is that Gerlach and Meehan will split too many votes in the Philly area, so party leaders want to minimize that problem. Who is that a problem for exactly?

As you can see, this Meehan question only gives rise to more and more questions, except in the mind of Pat Meehan, whose campaign remains steadfast in his exploratory campaign efforts.

“We’re asking the same thing,” said Meehan spokeswoman Virginia Davis.

“We’ve gotten encouragement to look at other offices, but Pat continues to travel across the state and talk to leaders and voters,” Davis said. “His focus has been and continues to be a run for governor, despite all this talk.”

This is good news for the GOP, even if they fail to grasp it. Party bosses in the west and east have been speaking out about a Corbett/Meehan ticket. But Meehan brings a lot to the table that would make him an excellent candidate for governor, especially against a relatively uninspired cast of Democratic hopefuls.

July 17, 2009 at 10:06 am

--Laura Vecsey

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