Williams: I've got the cash; Brady: He's got the issues, too

State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams said yesterday that only he and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato have the cash to compete in the May 18 Democratic primary election for governor.

Speaking after being endorsed by U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, chairman of the Democratic Party in Philadelphia, Williams showed that being flush with campaign cash can be a blessing and a curse.

Williams bristled at talk that he is a one-issue candidate, since the $1.5 million he has in the bank came from a small group of people interested in using public money to pay for private schools.

Brady warned against labeling Williams based on one issue.

"Anybody who thinks he is a one-issue candidate, they better not go down that path," he said. "Because I would put him against any of them, one-on-one, on any issue they want to pick out."

Campaign cash for television commercials is crucial this year since a majority of voters don't know much about the candidates.

Onorato has $6.8 million in the bank while two other Democratic candidates, state Auditor General Jack Wagner and Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, have $673,000 and $101,000.

"There are two of us who have the ability to be on television from now until the end of the election," Williams said. "That's Dan Onorato and Tony Williams. That's it, with all due respect to the rest of them. They're nice people but they don't have the resources."

Brady vowed to push Democratic ward leaders to turn out votes for Williams in the primary.

"There's no other person in this race who has the dominant part of the Democratic machine on Election Day working for them," Williams said after Brady spoke.