If size matters, Onorato has biggest war chest

If dollars were votes, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato would hold a commanding lead today in the race for governor.

But state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, a fellow Democrat who entered the race in late January, outraised Onorato in the first three months of 2010, according to campaign-finance reports.

Williams raised $1.7 million - mostly from political-action committees - and still had $1.5 million in the bank. Onorato raised $924,972 in the same period and had $6.8 million in the bank.

State Attorney General Tom Corbett, the Republican front-runner in the May 18 primary election, raised $1.8 million in 2010 and had $4 million on hand.

Two other Democrats, state Auditor General Jack Wagner and Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, trailed in the money race. Wagner raised $219,337, with $673,127 in the bank. Hoeffel raised $239,498 and had $101,582 in the bank.

State Rep. Sam Rohrer, a Berks County Republican, raised $172,000 and had $7,000 left.

The candidates filed reports yesterday with the Department of State, detailing fundraising from Jan. 1 to March 29.

Williams used two political action committees he controls to give his campaign $600,000.

Democrats for Education Reform, which promotes charter schools and other education reforms, gave Williams $750,000. Students First, which supports public funding for private-school tuition, gave him $250,000.

Both PACs have received contributions from the founders of Susquehanna International Group, a securities-trading firm in Bala Cynwyd. Joe Williams, of Democrats for Education Reform, said Susquehanna officials convinced his group to support Williams.

A local group, Working Families PAC, gave Williams $25,000. A PAC controlled by state Rep. Dwight Evans gave him $5,000.

Williams was expected to start running campaign ads on television today across Pennsylvania and in Philadelphia next week. He follows Onorato, who started running the first campaign ads last week.

The other candidates declined to say when they will start running ads.

Campaign cash is crucial in this election because polls show that a majority of voters have not decided on a candidate and know very little about the men running. Television ads, expensive to produce and air, provide a chance for candidates to introduce themselves.