GOP still split on candidate to challenge U.S. Sen. Bob Casey
Tomorrow is the first day for candidates to circulate nominating petitions to get their names listed on the April 24 primary election ballot. The state Republican Party meets Saturday in Harrisburg to consider endorsing candidates. And a contested GOP primary looks as likely as ever for the chance to take on U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. in the November general election.
Tomorrow is the first day for candidates to circulate nominating petitions to get their names listed on the April 24 primary election ballot. The state Republican Party meets Saturday in Harrisburg to consider endorsing candidates. And a contested GOP primary looks as likely as ever for the chance to take on U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. in the November general election.
Consider the moves by some of the candidates in the seven-man GOP field for the U.S. Senate.
Tom Smith, a little-known coal-company owner from Armstrong County, northeast of Pittsburgh, invested $4.25 million of his own money in his campaign this month. That could put him ahead of Casey for cash on hand when federal campaign finance reports are filed next week.
Tim Burns, a businessman from Eighty Four, won a straw poll among Republican leaders from the Southwestern part of the state Saturday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Steve Welch, a Chester County businessman, has been endorsed by Gov. Corbett.
And former state Rep. Sam Rohrer is calling on his party to not endorse any candidate. Rohrer did the same in 2010 when he challenged Corbett, then the party favorite, in the gubernatorial primary election.
Two candidates, Scranton Tea Party founder Laureen Cummings and Robert Allen Mansfield of Philadelphia, have withdrawn from the race after participating in a debate last month during Pennsylvania Society in New York City. Mansfield now intends to challenge U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah for the 2nd Congressional District in Philadelphia and Montgomery County.
PoliticsPA reports that another candidate, John Vernon, dropped out of the race last week. There are three other candidates -- David Christian, John Kensinger and Marc Scaringi -- in the GOP primary to challenge Casey.