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Wolf has cash advantage in Pa. gov race

In a preview of campaign-finance reports due Tuesday, Tom Wolf has a cash edge of about $1.7 million over Gov. Corbett in the Pennsylvania governor's race.

Democrat Tom Wolf is heading into the final weeks of the campaign with a $1.7 million cash edge over Gov. Corbett, the Republican incumbent he is trying to evict, according to summaries of finance reports the two sides plan to file this week.

The campaigns disclosed the numbers Sunday, the day before they are set to meet in the first debate of the gubernatorial campaign.

For the three month period that ended Sept. 15, Wolf's campaign said it raised $9.6 million and spent more than $6.2 million, leaving it with about $6.5 million in the bank for the final drive.

Corbett's campaign said it raised and spent just over $8 million, and had about $4.8 million on hand.

Detailed reports, including the names of contributors, are due to be filed Tuesday with the Secretary of State in Harrisburg.

Despite spending more than his rival, Corbett has been unable to cut into the lead that Wolf has enjoyed in independent polls since he won the Democratic nomination in May.

Wolf's cash advantage has showed up in recent weeks in television advertising, the most important (and expensive) part of a campaign for governor.

For the week of Sept. 16 through Monday, for instance, Wolf was able to buy $747,000 worth of air time statewide, to $517,000 for Corbett. In some markets, the Democrat had twice as many ads as the governor.