Schweiker to endorse Corbett-Cawley ticket

Former Gov. Mark Schweiker is endorsing a Republican gubernatorial ticket of Tom Corbett and Jim Cawley, giving Cawley a boost in his bid to win the party’s nomination for Lieutenant Governor.

Schweiker’s endorsement, delivered in a letter obtained by pa2010.com, is expected to be made public by Cawley’s campaign this week. While much of the GOP political establishment is already backing Corbett, Schweiker’s letter serves as more of an endorsement for Cawley, a Bucks County…

January 7, 2010 at 3:50 pm | Comments (9)

TUESDAY LEFTOVERS: Hoeffel on the slush fund, the southwest for Corbett, a Bedford Dem backs Wagner

Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel wants the General Assembly to return its seemingly ever-growing legislative surplus to the state’s general fund. Even as the state continues to piece together elements of last year’s budget, the surplus now totals more than $200 million.

“I call upon our state legislators to return this money to the commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Hoeffel, the Democratic candidate for governor, said in a statement Tuesday. “This money should be returned so that…

January 5, 2010 at 10:10 pm | Comments (4)

The top 5 stories that set the stage for 2010

If 2010 is to be an unpredictable political thunderstorm, 2009 was when the clouds gathered into position. There were many developments that set the stage, but here’s our take at the most important ones.

5. Tom Corbett’s free campaign. With the state Attorney General’s Harrisburg corruption probe now well into its third year and with no end in sight, it’s increasingly clear what kind of political capital the investigation affords the GOP’s gubernatorial front-runner. It’s…

January 3, 2010 at 10:15 pm | Comments (8)

CHRISTMAS LEFTOVERS: Rendell’s role, Corbett’s Nebrasaka investigation, another opponent eyes Holden

Here’s a few items we missed in the days leading up to and after Christmas last week.

Gov. Ed Rendell says he’s looking forward to playing a significant role in the race to succeed him. The two-term incumbent Democrat p“I hope they’ll avail themselves of it,”…

December 27, 2009 at 8:00 pm | Comments (0)

Corbett leads Dems in general election; Wagner fares best

State Attorney General Tom Corbett would best all of his potential Democratic rivals if a general election were held today, but state Auditor General Jack Wagner would turn in the best showing for Democrats, according to a new poll.

The Qunnipiac University of 1,381 voters released Thursday showed Corbett topping Wagner 43 percent to 33 percent. Corbett would also beat Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato 45 percent to 30 percent and Montgomery County Commissioner Joe…

December 17, 2009 at 11:49 am | Comments (11)

Corbett leads Gerlach by 26, but almost half undecided

State Attorney General Tom Corbett has a huge lead over Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6) in next year’s GOP primary for governor, but Gerlach has plenty of room to rise with 47 percent of voters still undecided, according to a new poll.

The Quinnipiac University survey released Thursday showed Corbett garnering 38 percent of the vote, compared to only 12 percent for Gerlach. The poll of 588 Republicans did not include the latest entrant to the…

December 17, 2009 at 11:31 am | Comments (0)

Gradually, Rohrer hardens his rhetoric on Bonusgate

After an initial

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

Corbett leads Dems with name recognition, but plenty still undecided

Less than a year before Election Day, state Attorney General Tom Corbett leads four of his potential Democratic opponents by double-digits, but about a fifth of voters remain undecided, according to a new poll.

The Rasmussen survey released Monday found Corbett garnering between 43 and 48 percent of the vote against Auditor General Jack Wagner, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel and Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty. The poll of 500 likely…

December 14, 2009 at 4:18 pm | Comments (12)

Powerful business PAC backing Corbett, Wagner in two primaries

One of the state’s most powerful business PACs announced Wednesday that it would be supporting Tom Corbett and Jack Wagner, respectively, in the Republican and Democratic primaries for governor.

PEG PAC, the political action committee of the Pennsylvania Business Council, said it’s decision came after “hours of face-to-face candidate interviews followed by analysis and discussion among PEG PAC board members.”

“There are eight intelligent and talented individuals vying to be the next chief executive of…

December 9, 2009 at 4:56 pm | Comments (1)

LEFTOVERS: Hoeffel challenges Corbett on discrimination, Conner writes the chamber & a new consultant

Joe Hoeffel continued Monday to highlight his stances on social issues, this time directly challenging GOP gubernatorial front-runner Tom Corbett to support an anti-discrimination law before the legislature in Harrisburg.

The strategy reflects Hoeffel’s belief that his Democratic primary rivals are mostly the same on the paramount economic issues, and that his more liberal positioning on social issues will win the day in the Democrat-heavy southeast. In a campaign statement, Hoeffel, a Montgomery County commissioner,…

November 30, 2009 at 9:29 pm | Comments (0)