Corbett leads Dem contenders by double digits

Attorney General Tom Corbett continues to enjoy double-digit advantages over his potential Democratic rivals for governor, according to a new poll.

The Quinnipiac University survey released Thursday echoed a large body of public polling which has shown Corbett in front going into the November general election, regardless of who his opponent is. In the poll, Corbett tops Dan Onorato 45 percent to 33 percent. He would beat Jack Wagner 48 percent to 29 percent, and…

April 8, 2010 at 1:20 pm | Comments (5)

LEFTOVERS: Another guv poll, Murtha’s PAC, a Hoyer roundup

The attention Wednesday was on the Quinnipiac poll that showed—once again—a wide open Democratic primary for governor. But there was another survey of the governor’s race,

April 7, 2010 at 10:35 pm | Comments (1)

Former congressman endorses Wagner

A former western Pennsylvania congressman backed Democrat Jack Wagner for governor Wednesday, saying the state auditor general “has been a reformer of government all his political life.”

The endorsement by Frank Mascara, who served four terms in Pennsylvania’s now-defunct 20th District, came with the clock ticking down toward primary day and rival Dan Onorato’s support growing in the midst of the campaign’s first advertising blitz. Wagner has much of the support…

April 7, 2010 at 12:57 pm | Comments (6)

Onorato’s support grows slightly in still-wide-open race

Democrat Dan Onorato is sporting deeper support than he or any of his primary rivals have enjoyed thus far, but almost half of likely Democratic voters are still undecided, according to a new poll.

The Quinnipiac University survey released Wednesday morning painted a picture of race that, while still largely undefined, is slowly but surely coming into focus. The poll showed Onorato leading the four-way primary with 20 percent of the vote, compared to 15…

April 7, 2010 at 8:46 am | Comments (6)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE ROUNDUP: Onorato, Corbett still in the lead (Updated)

Deadline day for gubernatorial candidates to submit the first of two pre-primary campaign finance reports came and went without much surprise.

We’re still sorting through the documents we have and awaiting release of other reports, but here’s a basic rundown of where things stand.

Democrat Dan Onorato and Republican Tom Corbett continue to hold commanding fundraising leads over their respective primary rivals. Numbers for both candidates had emerged in the days leading up to the…

April 6, 2010 at 7:18 pm | Comments (1)

Wagner spends more than he raises; $673K on hand

Auditor General Jack Wagner continued his struggle to build the kind of campaign war chest that will allow his gubernatorial candidacy to be competitive this year, raising less money than he spent during the first three months of this year, according to campaign finance data.

Wagner raised about $219,000 from January through March, but he spent about $222,000. That leaves him with about $673,000 in cash on hand six weeks before the four-way Democratic primary—about…

April 6, 2010 at 1:22 pm | Comments (3)

Corbett, Onorato lead wide open gov primaries

Attorney General Tom Corbett and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato are are leading in their respective gubernatorial primary contests, but at least two-thirds of voters from each party are undecided two months before primary day, according to a new poll.

The Franklin & Marshall College survey released Wednesday was one of numerous polls that have shown no candidate dominating the wide open races, with the inevitable blitz of campaign commercials yet to begin on TV.…

March 24, 2010 at 2:09 pm | Comments (1)

LEFTOVERS: Endorsements for Onorato, Wagner, Trivedi & Bucchianeri

A truckload of endorsements dropped for Democrats toward the end of this week. We also made a couple errors you can read about here.

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato got more labor backing, this time from the Johnstown Building and Construction Trades, an umbrella for numerous local unions. In a statement Thursday, Trades secretary and treasurer Jim Hollis said “we have seen firsthand Dan’s compassion for the working men and women…

March 21, 2010 at 12:30 pm | Comments (1)

Westmoreland Dems endorse Specter, Wagner, Conklin

The Westmoreland County Democratic Committee handed out its endorsements Saturday, backing Senator Arlen Specter for reelection and Auditor General Jack Wagner for governor.

The party also handed state Representative Scott Conklin (D-Centre) his first big endorsement win in nascent bid for Lieutenant Governor. Conklin only got into the race shortly before filing nominating petitions to get on the ballot; former Philadelphia City Controller Jonathan Saidel has been easily cruising to most county party endorsements.

Former…

March 21, 2010 at 12:22 pm | Comments (15)

Rasmussen: Corbett’s still winning

Another week, another poll that shows Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett leading his Democratic rivals for governor.

full story

March 19, 2010 at 2:37 pm | Comments (8)