While your Commonwealth Confidential reporters have been tracking the state budget debate, Gov. Rendell's battle of the bulge and the signing of Michael Vick, the political blogosphere has been buzzing with news bites on the Pennsylvania gubernatorial campaign trail.
First, the political news blog PA2010 reports today that perennial candidate Joe Hoeffel - now holding court in Norristown as a Montgomery County Commissioner - is commissioning a poll to see how he'd fair against other potential candidates in the gubernatorial race.
In an interview, Hoeffel told PA2010 he was in the process of raising money to pay for the poll, but declined to go into any specifics, such as whether the poll will match him up against just Democratic candidates or Republicans as well.
If he jumps in Hoeffel would join announced candidates, Auditor General Jack Wagner and Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox. Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty is rumored to be considering the race, PA2010 reports.
Meanwhile over on the R side, Attorney General Tom Corbett’s exploratory campaign is bringing on board a familiar Pennsylvania political powerhouse: David Girard-diCarlo.
Girard-diCarlo - a leading fundraiser for John McCain and George W. Bush, and former U.S. ambassador to Austria - will be Corbett's national finance chairman.
“I am honored to receive the support of Ambassador David Girard-diCarlo,” Corbett said in a statement. “David has a great track record with numerous state and national Republican campaigns and is well respected in the legal and business communities, not only in Pennsylvania, but throughout the United States.”
Corbett takes on U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach in the GOP primary next year.
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