By Mike Wereschagin
February 2, 2010
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Attorney General Tom Corbett raised about $577,000 more than Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato last year, but Onorato ended 2009 with more than twice as much money in the bank for this year's governor's race.
Onorato, a North Side Democrat, reported Monday he had $6.5 million in the bank. That's $3.3 million more than his closest challenger, Corbett, a Shaler Republican, and $5.5 million more than the other three Democratic candidates combined.
Corbett raised $4.2 million in 2009, compared to about $3.7 million for Onorato.
"Money goes to the candidates that the market thinks are pretty good bets. That's just how it works," said Chris Borick, director of the Institute of Public Opinion at Muhlenberg College.
Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty raised the second-most among Democrats, at $1.1 million, but $675,000 of that was for his re-election. He ended the year with $95,000, the least of any Democratic candidate.
"It's fair to say we have our work cut out for us," said Doherty campaign spokesman Mark Nevins. "We don't need the most money. We just need enough to run our campaign. After all, if the guy with the most money always won, Ross Perot would have been president and Tom Knox would still be running for governor."
Knox, a wealthy Philadelphia businessman, dropped out Jan. 22 and endorsed Onorato.
Auditor General Jack Wagner of Beechview had $676,000 in the bank, after raising about $757,000 last year. Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, a Democrat, raised $400,000 in 2009 and reported $229,000 cash on hand.
"We're on track" to meet fundraising goals, Hoeffel campaign spokeswoman Lauren Townsend said. "It's moving forward at a very nice pace. We think we'll have enough to make it happen."
State Rep. Sam Rohrer, R-Berks County, didn't enter the governor's race until November, and ended the year with about $28,000 in the bank. That since increased to about $100,000, according to his campaign. Republican Robert Mansfield of York had not released his campaign finance report as of yesterday evening.
Facing fewer competitors likely helped Corbett rake in more cash than Onorato last year, Borick said. The Democratic field could become more crowded if Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia, enters the race. He said he has about $100,000 in his Senate campaign account, and $2 million in commitments from donors, but hasn't decided whether to run.
"Money is a factor," Williams said. "I wouldn't run just to run."
Cash continues to pour in to Pennsylvania's other high-profile race this year, for Arlen Specter's U.S. Senate seat. Specter, D-Philadelphia, ended the year with about $8.7 million in the bank. U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Delaware County, had about $5.1 million in cash. Republican challenger Pat Toomey's campaign reported $2.8 million in the bank. A year-end finance report for Republican Peg Luksik of Johnstown could not be found and she could not be reached.
