Tom Knox’s exit from the Democratic gubernatorial race, and subsequent endorsement of frontrunner Dan Onorato, has shaken up the field.

The Philadelphia businessman, in addition to backing Onorato, said the other three candidates should exit to race. Doing so, he said, will help the party’s chances against the Republican nominee in the fall.

Below is reaction to Friday’s news from each of the campaign’s.

Lauren Townsend, co-campaign manager for Joe Hoeffel:
Townsend said although Hoeffel is sad to see Knox leave, it will help his candidacy.

On a political level, this is good news for us,” she said. “Joe is the only pro-choice candidate left in this race, and the only real progressive, and the only candidate from the vote-rich southeast.”

Doherty has said he is in favor of abortion rights, while Onorato has said he would not change the state’s abortion laws. But Townsend said Hoeffel is the only candidate with a track record of supporting abortion rights.

Dan Fee, spokesman for Dan Onorato’s campaign:
The spokesman said Friday was a good day for Onorato, and a bad day for Joe Hoeffel and Jack Wagner.

The Montgomery County commissioner’s assertion that Knox’s exit helps him because he’s now the only southeast candidate doesn’t ring true, Fee said.

“Under that logic, they would have been able to raise more than $400,000,” he said. “The donors in Pennsylvania have looked at Joe Hoeffel and walked away.”

Hoeffel and Wagner needed Knox to “stand toe-to-toe” with Onorato financially, Fee said.

The spokesman said the Onorato campaign hasn’t been trying to move its rivals out of the race.

“Other people will make decisions about their own candidacy,” he said. “Dan is only focused on his.”

Mark Nevins, spokesman for Chris Doherty’s campaign:
Nevins said Doherty has no intention of changing his plan to continue running for governor.

“This is going to be an election about which candidate is best qualified to get Pennsylvania’s economy back on track,” he said. “Nothing that’s happened today changes our view that Chris Doherty is best qualified candidate for that job.”

The spokesman said although the campaign had thought Knox’s financial resources could have somewhat neutralized Onorato’s fundraising, the mayor can still win the nomination without him.

“The playing field may have shifted slightly, but our game plan remains the same,” said Nevins, who added that the fact the race now has one less eastern Pennsylvania candidate could help Doherty.

Jack Wagner, in a statement sent by his campaign:
“I know why I am running for Governor,” the auditor general said. “The economy in the United States is bad and Pennsylvanians are hurting. Our families are being squeezed by high and prolonged unemployment, by rising costs for gasoline, electricity, health care, and education, and have suffered a dramatic reduction in pensions and other forms of savings.

“State government needs reform,” Wagner said. “It needs structural reform. And it needs structural spending reform. I have a vision to bring reform to Pennsylvania state government and that is my focus and my campaign’s focus.”

Tags: Chris Doherty, Dan Onorato, Jack Wagner, Joe Hoeffel, Tom Knox

This entry was posted on Friday, January 22nd, 2010 at 3:05 pm and is filed under PA Reports, PoliticsPA Reports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.