Asher Endorses Rafferty for AG

By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

Republican National Committeeman and Pennsylvania power broker Bob Asher has thrown his support behind PA Senator John Rafferty for Attorney General.

Asher confirmed his decision during Republican State Committee meeting on Friday night.

“I’m supporting Rafferty,” he said. “The Senate supports him, and I’m supporting him.”

The Montgomery County businessman has raised and contributed millions of dollars to GOP campaigns over several decades.

As Allegheny GOP Chairman Jim Roddey summed up to the Tribune Review last year:

“Bob Asher has been the top Republican fundraiser in Pennsylvania for a very long time, which says to me that people trust and respect his judgment. If you are a GOP political candidate for any important position in the state, your first assignment is to get the support of Bob Asher.”

He played a key role in Tom Corbett’s 2004 5.6 percent primary victory for Attorney General. Due in large part to Asher, Corbett earned most of the institutional support from the GOP’s southeast caucus over over Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor.

Meanwhile, Dave Freed is leaning toward a run as well. At a crowded state committee reception he hosted on Friday night, the Cumberland County District Attorney said he was looking at a bid.

“I have not announced that I’m running for Attorney General. I have a DA race, and I want to be respectful to that race and to my county,” he said.

“I’m certainly very seriously thinking about it. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t. I do believe there’s room for a prosecutor in the race, and that’s where my head is right now.”

Freed has the support of many of his DA colleagues, by whom he is well respected.

However, with the support of Asher and most of his colleagues in the PA Senate, Rafferty is an early favorite for the seat.

“I’m getting a good reception, a very good reception. A lot of people are encouraging me to do something,” Rafferty said on Friday night.

On Saturday morning, he delivered a well-received “state of the Senate” address to GOP committee members. Rafferty ticked off a number of Republican accomplishments including tort reform and new regulations for abortion clinics. The Senate Transportation Committee Chairman also boasted of his forthcoming legislation promoting public-private investments in infrastructure.

Rafferty has already emerged as the early target of at least one Democratic hopeful: former Congressman Patrick Murphy. Murphy’s campaign aggressively sought to challenge Rafferty on his support for Sen. Dominic Pileggi’s controversial electoral college proposal.

“Senator Rafferty has clearly been in Harrisburg for too long if he thinks that partisan politics is more important than the idea that every Pennsylvanian’s voice counts,” said campaign spokesman Nat Binns.

“I like the idea,” Rafferty told PoliticsPA of Pileggi’s plan. “I think that what it’s going to do is enhance both parties, and hopefully the Republican party even more to get out the vote, because people are going to realize that one vote can make a big difference. And it also is going to bring the candidates into the districts now, instead of just pose for pictures in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. They have to work the state now.”

Looking at the possible general election matchup, Rafferty sounded confident about the prospect of facing Murphy.

“Met him once, seemed like a nice guy. But I think when you look at my record versus his record, you’re going to see that I have the experience and the wherewithal to be a great Attorney General,” he said.

4 Responses

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  2. Let’s discuss your accusation point by point Miles. First you state that Mike’s claim is old. I believe the at District Attorney and AG are still looking into the allegations, therefore a claim of being to old is baseless, at least in the eyes of the law.

    Second you state that the accusation was baseless. Let’s discuss facts,

    1. Mr. Murphy’s campaign manager rented out a po box in bristol pa.
    2. Mr. Murphy then sent out letters from a fictitious PA Voters Office targeting minorities and low turnout D’s.
    3. Those who responded those were told to mail their ballots to the pobox thus enabling Mr. Murphy to choose which ones to send in and which ones not to. If not illegal, certainly unethical.

    Finally, you stated they will never come to fruition. I’m not really sure how they could come to fruition. So that really didn’t make any sense.

  3. …Anyone….Anyone….Bueller…Bueller….Bueller……

    Don’t you have anything better to do with your time? Its clear that by the ‘zero’ responses you’ve gotten that no one has heard anything. Stop drudging up old, hyper-partisan, baseless accusations that will never come to fruition.

  4. Forget the Electoral College situation. I wonder what Nat Binns has to say about the Voter Fraud perpetrated by the Murphy campaign last election against Fitzpatrick in Bucks. How can a guy that stooped to breaking the law to win an election honestly believe he is suited to be the top law enforcement officer in the state? Can you answer that Nat? Get rid of this career politician and elect someone with principles like John Rafferty.

    PS. I heard there are charges forthcoming against the Murphy campaign. Anyone else hear anything?

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    • No. I've already decided on how to cast my vote. (81%)
    • Yes. Anxious to hear from both candidates (19%)

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