Between candidate forums, Morris calls Specter a ‘doddering old fool’

Former Clinton administration adviser turned conservative pundit Dick Morris headlined a dinner of state Republican Party insiders Friday night, delivering a scathing critique of Democrats in Washington full of punch lines targeting local incumbents and rooted in a belief that Pennsylvania can lead the way toward a Republican return to power.

“You can free us from Arlen Specter, who you inflicted upon us in the first place,” Morris said in targeting the Republican-turned-Democrat early and …

February 12, 2010 at 10:16 pm | Comments (45)

GOP guv hopefuls talk taxes, Marcellus

PHILADELPHIA— Republican gubernatorial candidates Sam Rohrer and Tom Corbett came here Tuesday evening to field questions from conservative activists on the economy the development of the Marcellus Shale.

Their appearance at a candidates’ forum sponsored by a coalition of Tea Party groups afforded Corbett an opportunity to court some of the party’s base before Republican State Committee meets this weekend, when it will almost certainly endorse him. Rohrer, meanwhile, was able to take on the …

February 9, 2010 at 11:07 pm | Comments (14)

Corbett leads guv primary, but vast majority undecided

Attorney General Tom Corbett holds a comfortable edge in the Republican primary for governor, but most voters are still undecided less than four months before primary day, according to a new poll.

The Franklin & Marshall College survey released Wednesday showed Corbett—widely considered the party’s presumptive nominee—garnering 23 percent of the vote, compared to only 5 percent for state Representative Sam Rohrer (R-Berks). Almost 70 percent of voters are undecided in the race.

The depth …

January 27, 2010 at 9:16 am | Comments (2)

Rohrer wants to debate Corbett before GOP endorsement meeting

State Attorney General Tom Corbett seems to be marching confidently to the Republican nomination for governor, but state Representative Sam Rohrer (R-Berks) says not so fast.

Rohrer, the conservative underdog who has been building a grassroots campaign, called on Monday for the state Republican Party to hold a televised debate between him and Corbett before it makes an endorsement at its meeting next month, The Associated Press reports. Speaking before the Pennsylvania Press Club in …

January 25, 2010 at 4:19 pm | Comments (0)

Rohrer camp wants supporters to look out for opposition researchers

State Representative Sam Rohrer’s (R-Berks) gubernatorial campaign said Friday that party front-runner Tom Corbett’s campaign had begun opposition research of the conservative underdog, and asked its supporters to be on the lookout for any negative campaign messaging in the weeks to come.

In a memo to supporters, Rohrer’s senior adviser Jeff Coleman said an operative for Corbett, the state Attorney General, had filed a “right-to-know” request with the state House.

“This development signals that a …

January 16, 2010 at 11:00 am | Comments (5)

Rohrer camp compares Corbett to Fisher, Hafer

State Representative Sam Rohrer’s (R-Berk) campaign is pushing back against conventional wisdom that Attorney General Tom Corbett is the GOP’s best hope to recapture the Governor’s Mansion, likening his early name-recognition with the failed candidacies of Barbara Hafer and Mike Fisher.

In a memo drafted by Rohrer’s senior adviser Jeff Coleman and shared with supporters Friday, the campaign says the Republican nomination for governor is “up for grabs,” and goes on to say that it …

January 9, 2010 at 4:17 pm | Comments (9)

Rohrer aide says there’s a ‘clean, clear contrast’ with Corbett

Now that Jim Gerlach has …

January 8, 2010 at 10:44 am | Comments (1)

COMPLETE COVERAGE: Gerlach bows out of governor’s race

Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6) dropped out of the race for governor Thursday, drastically shuffling the political landscape and effectively making state Attorney General Tom Corbett the GOP’s presumptive nominee.

Gerlach’s made his announcement in a statement late Thursday afternoon as rumors of his impending withdrawal swirled among party insiders. While there was widespread speculation that he would seek reelection to Congress, his four paragraph statement only alluded to a vow to “continue public service.”

“I …

January 7, 2010 at 6:05 pm | Comments (13)

Gradually, Rohrer hardens his rhetoric on Bonusgate

After an initial …

December 16, 2009 at 10:58 am | Comments (3)

Rohrer radio ad responds to Obama’s Allentown visit

State Representative Sam Rohrer’s (R-Berks) gubernatorial campaign looked for a political opening in President Obama’s visit to Allentown this week when it ran a radio ad in the area which it called a “Main Street response.”

Rohrer, who is running an insurgent campaign from a conservative base, says the president isn’t “totally responsible” for the current poor economy in the radio ad his campaign said is running this week.

“Democrat and Republican reckless spending, taxes …

December 4, 2009 at 2:41 pm | Comments (1)