By Alex Roarty
PoliticsPA Staff Writer
roarty@politicspa.com

Former state Rep. Sean Ramaley’s acquittal Thursday is an early stumble for GOP gubernatorial front-runner Tom Corbett that will raise questions about the rest of his “Bonusgate” investigation among some Republicans, analysts and GOP insiders told PoliticsPA after news of the decision swept across Pennsylvania.

But the jury’s decision doesn’t nearly derail the attorney general’s campaign, they agreed, as long as he can secure convictions before the Republican primary.

“Do I think it’s ideal politically? No,” said one GOP strategist who wished to remain anonymous. “But at the end of the day people won’t judge Tom Corbett until May, and I think by then he’ll have convictions under his belt.”

The attorney general’s office has thus far charged 22 people involved with state government – 10 Republicans and 12 Democrats – as a result of his wide-ranging, three-year public corruption investigation, known as “Bonusgate.” Ramaley was the first defendant tried as part of the probe.

The investigation and Corbett’s surprisingly easy re-election victory last year are the main reasons most Republican officials have thrown their weight behind his gubernatorial candidacy.

The symbolism of losing “Bonusgate’s” first trial might cause concern for some of them, said Muhlenberg College pollster Chris Borick.

“For an attorney general running for governor to lose the first [trial] … that has gotta be considered a hard hit,” Borick said.

The verdict will “ratchet up the pressure” on the attorney general’s other cases, the analyst said.

Corbett faces U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach and state Rep. Sam Rohrer in the Republican primary. Gerlach in particular has criticized Corbett’s dual role as the state’s chief prosecutor and political candidate, though he has stopped short of calling on him to resign.

Gerlach might have a chance to press the argument this weekend at Pennsylvania Society in New York, the annual gathering of political power brokers and top-tier candidates. The proximity of the Ramaley verdict to the weekend clearly isn’t good timing for the attorney general.

“Before the cock crows three times, you’re going to hear from the other candidates that this shows he should be focused on his work as attorney general as opposed to working on his campaign,” said one Republican Party insider, who personally dismisses that argument.

The party member agreed the verdict isn’t great for Corbett, but he said it’s far from the worst news that could come out of “Bonusgate” for him. Cutting a deal with another reported focus on the probe, former Democratic House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, would play much worse with Republican voters, the source said.

“It would look like a bunch of politicians cutting a deal, regardless of what the deal is,” he said.

Republican sources agreed the Ramaley verdict won’t reduce the likelihood the state committee will endorse Corbett in February, which many party members have viewed as inevitable.

“Tom is in a commanding position,” said one Republican. “[The verdict] maybe changes only a handful of votes.”

But Corbett will still be eager to win his next “Bonusgate” case soon, Borick said.

“It’s like sports,” said Borick, “until you can erase the taste of defeat with another victory it’s going to hang over his head.”

Tags: Bonusgate, Jim Gerlach, Sam Rohrer, Tom Corbett

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