Comedy Night: yuks, 'schmucks' raise 30G

Al Franken aside, comedians don't often become politicians.

But last night, local politicians tried their best to be comedians.

The 20th annual Stu Bykofsky Candidates' Comedy Night brought out more than a dozen candidates for state and national offices willing to make jokes and let the jokes be on them. The event - which drew a standing-room crowd to Finnigan's Wake, 3rd and Spring Garden streets - raised more than $30,000 for the Delaware Valley chapter of Variety, a charity that serves children with disabilities.

The total amount raised since the event began now tops $400,000. Geno's Steaks was the night's corporate sponsor.

Bykofsky, who hosted the event with Daily News columnist Jenice Armstrong, started the night by referring to the event as a "political 'Dinner for Schmucks.' "

The jokes poked fun at local and national politicians, issues big and small:

_ Economic times are so tight, city agencies are taking bribes on installment plans.

_ It's so hot that Mayor Nutter tried to pass a perspiration tax. _ Al Gore's in so much hot water with this alleged sexual scandal that even the trees are rejecting his hugs.

_ Is "breaking a leg" covered under the national health-care bill?

Gubernatorial candidates Dan Onorato and Tom Corbett, and Senate candidates Pat Toomey and Joe Sestak, were the night's heavy hitters. After a series of jokes that got mixed reactions, Toomey deadpanned, "I know what you're thinking: Don't give up your day job. . . . Actually I don't have a day job."

Both Onorato and Corbett acknowledged their Pittsburgh roots - Onorato joked that he'd been mistaken for a local weather man while campaigning - but said they were supporters of Philadelphia staples like cheese-steaks and the Phillies.

Corbett said he'd read in the paper how two drunken men were arrested after knocking down a Phillies Phanatic statue.

"Now," he said, "you know why I'm for the death penalty."