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John Baer: Time for mercy in race for governor?

As Gov. Corbett seeks to close a polling gap with Tom Wolf, Corbett himself helps explain why that gap exists.

Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and current governor Tom Corbett meet Wednesday evening at the 44th Environmental Aprtnership Dinner in Philadelphia. Both outlined their environmental agendas for state geovernment. Wednesday, June 11, 2014, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ( AP Photo / The Philadelphia Inquirer, Matthew Hal )
Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and current governor Tom Corbett meet Wednesday evening at the 44th Environmental Aprtnership Dinner in Philadelphia. Both outlined their environmental agendas for state geovernment. Wednesday, June 11, 2014, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ( AP Photo / The Philadelphia Inquirer, Matthew Hal )Read more

A LONGTIME FRIEND and mentor now in his late 70s emailed last week after another poll showed Tom Corbett badly - as in really badly - trailing Tom Wolf for governor.

The email asked if Pennsylvania has a political mercy rule.

For the unaware, a mercy rule ends a sporting event early if one team takes a lead considered to be insurmountable.

Maybe we should think about it.

Polls suggest that Corbett is headed toward historic rejection as the first Pennsylvania chief executive unable to win re-election.

We've had five straight incumbent victories since governors here could serve two terms, starting in 1974 with Democrat Milton Shapp.

The average margin of those victories was 19 points.

The only close one was Republican Dick Thornburgh's in 1982; at the height of a recession (under GOP President Ronald Reagan), he won re-election by just 2.7 points.

Re-elect margins since then have begged for mercy rules.

In 1990, Democratic Gov. Bob Casey won by 35 points; in 1998, Republican Gov. Tom Ridge by 26 points; in 2006, Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell by 21 points.

Landslides all.

Yet the current incumbent, barring a dramatic turn of events, could lose by the kind of margin by which his predecessors won.

The latest Quinnipiac University poll shows the governor down 24 points.

If Corbett loses, he needn't look far for the principal reason why.

In a recent interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, he himself spelled it out:

"Frankly, I always was of the philosophy - and I certainly am changing that now - that if you do a good job, people will recognize it and it will get reported."

This betrays either a profound misunderstanding of politics, a long-term disconnect from reality or the cognitive powers of a cocker spaniel.

Set aside for a moment the "good job" part. Many Pennsylvanians like government that governs least, and Corbett's done a good job of governing least.

But after three statewide campaigns and more than a decade in elective office, he only now sees that getting out a message to define or defend oneself is vital?

Yikes. Talk about a slow learning curve.

He should have asked Rendell, Ridge or Thornburgh about what gets reported.

He should have consulted that old saw, "Good news is no news."

He should have hearkened to the wisdom of Edward R. Murrow, who famously said, "We cannot make good news out of bad practice."

And he should have realized a "philosophy" of do-good-and-it-gets-reported is better suited to the likes of Mother Teresa than to anyone seeking or holding political office.

Politicians, at least successful ones, offer the public a persona that connects, shows concerns, explains actions, projects leadership.

Corbett's done none of that.

Instead, he allowed a narrative about himself - uncaring, anti-education, too cozy with the energy industry, inept at governance even with a Legislature of his own party - to go uncontested for 3 1/2 years.

To now mount a campaign telling "the truth" about education funding, for example, reeks of political desperation.

To now pledge a special legislative session on pension reform, if re-elected, is merely a concession that he could not and cannot achieve such reform.

To now tell the Inquirer that he's politically down because he took on issues such as liquor reform that "no one else will touch" is kidding himself.

The last two GOP governors, Ridge and Thornburgh, pushed liquor reform, failed at it and won re-election.

Corbett isn't down because of reporting, non-reporting or tough issues.

He's down because of what he did and did not do in office.

And for that, it seems that voters are showing little mercy.

Blog: ph.ly/BaerGrowls

Columns: ph.ly/JohnBaer