HARRISBURG – Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released the following statement regarding former President Bill Clinton’s campaign event for Democrat gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato.

“The fact that Dan Onorato has spent more time cozying up to Ed Rendell’s political buddies than focusing on the issues that matter to Pennsylvanians says all you need to know about how Dan Onorato would serve as governor,” Gleason said. “Ed Rendell’s political buddies like Bill Clinton have made numerous visits for Dan Onorato, and Rendell himself has lent him $275,000. As Pennsylvanians, do we really believe that Bill Clinton would be making all of these personal visits and Ed Rendell would be lending someone $275,000 without wanting something in return?

“It’s simple. On one hand, we have Dan Onorato, a candidate who’s ready and willing to raise taxes on Pennsylvanians and bloat the size of our government even more. On the other hand, Rendell and friends see Tom Corbett, a proven reformer who has signed a no-new-tax pledge and has made cutting government waste one of the cornerstones of agenda. While Dan Onorato will continue with the Rendellian way of thinking in Harrisburg, Tom Corbett will break with the past and help put this Commonwealth back on the right track.

“Let Dan Onorato stand on any stage that he wants with any friend of Ed Rendell that he wants. Tom Corbett’s going to win this race by focusing on what matters most – the people of Pennsylvania!”

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is reporting that Governor Ed Rendell has provided the Dan Onorato’s gubernatorial campaign with a $275,000 “loan.” (Brad Bumsted, “Gov. Rendell Gives Onorato Campaign $275,000,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 10/28/10)

Capitolwire.com has reported that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato has received more than $6,100 from close political associates of Ed Rendell.

Onorato also reported receiving contributions on Sept. 29 from a dozen or so members of the Rendell administration, totaling at least $6,100. Those donating to Onorato include: Colleen Kopp, his secretary for legislative affairs; Donna Cooper, Rendell’s policy secretary; Budget Secretary Mary Soderberg, Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, acting Insurance Commissioner Robert L. Pratter, and press secretary Gary Tuma.  (Under The Dome, Capitolwire, 10/26/10)

In addition to receiving money from Governor Ed Rendell’s Political Action Committee, Dan Onorato also received $20,000 in May from former Rendell Chief of Staff and embattled Chairman of the Delaware River Port Authority John Estey. In August, Onorato refused to state whether or not he would remove the embattled Estey from his position, despite numerous allegations of corruption at DRPA. (Tom Infield, “Onorato Sidesteps Question On DRPA’s Chairman’s Future,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/5/10)