December 2, 2008
2010- Pennsylvania Governor
Attorney General Tom Corbett
Introducing (or re-introducing, depending upon the frequency of your visits to this site and others) the Republican Party’s best chance to win back Ed Rendell’s vacated seat in Harrisburg come 2010.
Although some GOP activists may prefer Club for Growth President Pat Toomey, we cannot ignore Corbett’s strength statewide:
Despite the GOP’s hammering on Election Day, there were a few bright spots, none more stellar than the performance of state Attorney General Tom Corbett. Barack Obama won the Keystone State by 600,000 votes, yet Mr. Corbett pulled off a stunning re-election victory, winning by a margin of 400,000.
That net swing of one million instantly catapulted the AG to frontrunner for the Republican nomination for governor in 2010, leaving the other hopefuls gasping for air and, possibly, looking for a graceful exit. One of the more credible rumors making the rounds is that Montgomery County Commissioner, and former District Attorney, Bruce Castor would be the ideal lieutenant governor running mate to Mr. Corbett.
They are from the most populous regions on opposite ends of the state, are viewed as reformers, and have impeccable law enforcement credentials, specifically in rooting out political corruption. While there is a lot of ground to cover between now and 2010, a Corbett-Castor tandem would be an extremely formidable ticket which could signal the re-emergence of the Pennsylvania Republican Party.
Since I call Montgomery County, PA home, let me provide a few thoughts:
- Though I am not deeply familiar with Corbett, he has been an immensely competent Attorney General. He strikes me as a sober, able, and non-ideological manager, someone in the mold of fellow PA Republicans Tom Ridge and Arlen Specter.
- Pat Toomey has one glaring problem: A voting record. Although I am not faulting him for his experience in the House, Toomey has a rather lengthy history of support for far-right legislation. His stances on some cultural issues are just not going to fly in Pennsylvania. To echo the sentiment of others on this site, why not run candidates who are suitable for their particular state or electorate?
- As the selection above notes, Bruce Castor is a rising star in the Pennsylvania GOP. After spending the better part of the last decade as an extremely effective District Attorney in PA’s third largest county, Castor currently serves as a county commissioner. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that he is Southeastern Pennsylvania’s second most popular Republican behind Sen. Arlen Specter. Adding him to a 2010 Corbett-led ticket would be wise move, since one draws power from a Pittsburgh base (Corbett) and the other a Philadelphia base (Castor).
Dark-horse candidate: Jim Gerlach- One of my favorite House members, Gerlach just won his third term in PA’s 6th Congressional district. He has survived despite the DNC spending endless resources to pick-up his seat.
http://race42008.com/2008/12/02/2010-pennsylvania-governor/trackback/
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:21 pm
I heard the PA LT. Gov. died. Who’s her replacement?
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:34 pm
#1 Her replacement by PA law is the Republican leader of the senate, whose name I do not remember. Corbett is by far the best Republican hope for PA governor because of his proven vote getting success. By the way, Corbett may not be identified with far right issues, but he is definitely pro-life. Pennsylvania does elect pro-life candidates, such as our pro-life Democratic senator, Bob Casey.
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Should Corbett win the Statehouse in 2010, that could make PA’s 21 electoral votes an immediate pickup in 2012.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
#2- Yes, Corbett is pro-life, I was just pointing out that it will be harder to nail him to certain issues since he has no voting record.
#3- That is a bold claim. A Corbett win doesn’t mean PA’s 21 votes is any closer to the GOP column than it was on November 4th.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Nah. Even when Ridge was way popular in 2000, he couldn’t deliver the state for George Bush. Al Gore won by four points.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Right Adam
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:12 pm
#1- The new Lt. Gov. is Joseph B. Scarnati
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I think Toomey will run against Specter again. I like Corbett, and voted for him for AG when I lived there. There’s also talk that Rick Santorum wants to run for Governor, and Lynn Swann may make another run, although I think he’d be better off running for Congress. The new Lt. Gov is Joe Scarnati, from Jefferson County in the sparse northwestern part of the Commonwealth. No one expects him to make a run for the top job.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:17 pm
A threeway Santorum – Corbett – Swann race could be pretty interesting.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Rendell leading the charge for a federal bailout of Pennsylvania today is tantamount to a confession of professional malfeasance. We should be able to pick up the governorship if we run the right candidate, and Corbett sounds like the guy.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:22 pm
JA Pruce, Santorum’s career is over (thank God).
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
I have almost had my fill of Pennsylvania. They re-elected Okinawa Jack Murtha after he called them red-neck racists. However, if we could pick up the Governorship, that would be very helpful. 2010 looks like it will be a good year at the gubernatorial level. Look at some of the open seats; Kansas, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Maine, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Oregon, all of which are currently controlled by the Democrats.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Santoums’s a good guy. Don’t hate.
Anyway, I thought the picture was of Leslie Nielson for a second.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Have to agree with Alex here, Santorum is done…especially in PA of all places.
#9- Swann would not stand a chance against Corbett
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Yes. Man On Dog has a lot of time on his hands. He can make Laura Ingraham’s heart aflutter.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Santorum annoyed me when he turned lackey for the Discovery Institute. He also bothered me by being an extreme neo-con.
Social conservatives can do much better.
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:03 am
[...] Stubel looks at the top three and a half contenders. Though I am not deeply familiar with Corbett, he has been an immensely competent Attorney General. [...]
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:04 am
After redistricting in 2012, the PA state GOP better give Gerlach a more GOP-friendly district. The guy deserves it. He has held on time and time again in a districts that lurches leftward more and more with each passing cycle.
January 21st, 2009 at 1:07 am
[...] I have spoken at length about Tom Corbett and the 2010 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race here. [...]
January 21st, 2009 at 1:30 am
[...] I have spoken at length about Tom Corbett and the 2010 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race here. [...]