The campaign for governor of Pennsylvania has reached a new phase, which is good news for two of the candidates
running crawling toward the opportunity to replace Ed Rendell.
Among Democrats (or, at least, those who masquerade as Democrats), Dan Onorato has newly emerged as the favorite -- not so much because of anything Onorato has done or will do, but instead because his opponents refrained from derailing him before the onset of
Air Dan, a massive television advertising campaign funded by the
big-money donors who believe
Pennsylvania they would benefit from Onorato's election. Until now, Jack Wagner's
statewide connections and Joe Hoeffel's status as an
actual Democrat had been enough to prevent any candidate from claiming an edge, and Onorato's "inevitability" argument was never credible. But his opponents squandered the chance to dent Onorato with a scandal or his vulnerabilities (
assessments,
drink tax, his ability to
pass the Republican litmus test) before massive media buys dominate the discussion. (The most likely explanation of
Anthony Williams' candidacy is that he is carrying water for someone who wishes to dilute the Philadelphia vote -- has anyone checked his petition circulators?)
Among Republicans, Tom Corbett has withstood the principal threats to his candidacy (another
across-the-board acquittal of a
politician Democratic politician chased by Corbett's prosecutors; a careful examination of the
relationship between
Corbett's campaign and
Corbett's Office of the Attorney General; or a Republican candidate with charisma) and is positioned to cruise to nomination -- and the slight favorite's position for November.
The likely (and lackluster) matchup in November: Corbett-Onorato.
The relevant Propositions Board lines (far right column) have been adjusted.
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