Corbett expected to get endorsed by 2 largely black Phila. groups

Tom Corbett's track record as a successful two-time candidate for statewide office suggests that he will get trounced in Philadelphia, vote-wise, on Nov. 2.

But the Republican from the Pittsburgh suburbs doesn't need to win the state's largest city to be elected governor. He might need only to cut his losses here and hope for a big margin in the rest of Pennsylvania.

Every city vote he gets is one that his foe, Democrat Dan Onorato, cannot get. And that might be the difference in a close race.

Corbett's effort will begin to show itself Saturday, when he is expected to get the endorsement of two groups composed largely of black Philadelphians.

Corbett expects to pick up the support of the Pentecostal Clergy Political Awareness Committee, a group that represents 60 or more largely black churches in the city.

Later in the day, Corbett will be endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Housing Police, a union that represents workers for the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

Word of the endorsements comes from Philadelphia lawyer David Oh, a former Republican candidate for City Council, who worked with both groups to set up the recommendations.

Oh said the Pentecostal group, led by Bishop Leonard Goins, pastor of Chestnut Hill Church of God in Christ, will also endorse Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Joe Sestak in an event Saturday after its endorsement of Corbett.

Representatives of other local police unions largely composed of African American members will attend the endorsement announcement by the housing police in North Philadelphia, Oh said.

A new Rasmussen poll Thursday showed Corbett leading Onorato in the race by 10 percentage points statewide.

Bob Asher, cochairman of Corbett's gubernatorial campaign committee, said GOP efforts were under way on many fronts to gain support for Corbett among Philadelphia Democrats, including lawyers who may also be giving to Onorato's campaign.

"Yes, it's true that we are reaching out in urban areas. . . . We are having some truly encouraging success," Asher said.

Relatively speaking, Corbett has done well in Philadelphia in the past.

He got 19.5 percent of the vote in his 2008 reelection as attorney general. In 2004, in his first run for that office, he got 18.8 percent.

In both cases, he outperformed his party's voter registration. In Philadelphia, registered Democrats outnumber by a 6-1 ratio.

Political consultant Maurice Floyd, who has been working with Asher on drumming up Philadelphia support for Corbett, said the candidate began regular trips to meet Philadelphia movers and shakers right after his 2008 reelection.

"It's been underground," Floyd said, "but he's been running very hard. I think, in the end, it's going to pay off very well."