By Alex Roarty
PoliticsPA Staff Writer
roarty@politicspa.com

HARRISBURG — GOP gubernatorial candidates Sam Rohrer and Tom Corbett might have remained cordial toward each other during a Friday night debate at the state Republican Party’s winter meeting, but behind the scenes, the two men and their campaigns didn‘t hesitate to trade a few verbal barbs.

The criticism started when Rohrer, moments after finishing the debate, told reporters the attorney general’s campaign has begun copying his anti-tax message.

“He’s already become more like us as we’ve gone along,” the state lawmaker said.

Later, Rohrer elaborated in an interview that Corbett earlier this year wouldn‘t pledge to forgo tax increases but had changed his message at a tea party forum in Philadelphia earlier in the week. The Berks County lawmaker said he had been clear from his campaign’s onset he wouldn‘t support a tax increase.

“So, he’s moving my way,” Rohrer said.

The legislator has tried portraying his opponent as a candidate who’s agenda is driven by polls and triangulation and, consequently, holds positions that sway with fickle public opinion.

“I don’t know what the message is out of the Corbett campaign,” Rohrer said.

On Saturday, the attorney general easily earned the state GOP’s endorsement, which had been a forgone conclusion for much of the last year but was still symbolic of his candidacy’s strength.

But Corbett’s good news didn‘t keep his campaign manager, Brian Nutt, from firing back at Rohrer.

“I have no idea what Sam Rohrer is talking about,” said Nutt, who added that the lawmaker’s 17 years in the legislature without producing tangible reform show he’s part of the problem in state government.

“What leadership has he shown?” the campaign manager asked. “That would be my question.”

Nutt also criticized Rohrer for supporting the now-infamous legislative pay-raise of 2005, a vote that is one his candidacy’s primary weaknesses.

“I can tell you there won’t be any pay-raise votes for Tom Corbett,” he said.

Corbett did tell reporters after receiving the endorsement that he had signed an no-tax-increase pledge from Grover Norquist.

Tags: Sam Rohrer, Sam Rohrer pay raise pay-raise, Tom Corbett, Tom Corbett tax pledge

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