By Alex Roarty
PoliticsPA Staff Writer
roarty@politicspa.com

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Doherty raised more than $1 million last year between his run for governor and re-election campaign for mayor, but those efforts left with him with just $94,000 cash on hand to finish last year.

Doherty’s gubernatorial campaign raised $450,000 last year, more than rival Joe Hoeffel managed. But he also spent $350,000 getting his campaign off the ground.

The cash-on-hand number is significantly smaller than the $6.5 million on hand for Democratic gubernatorial front-runner Dan Onroato and will likely add to rumors the mayor might become a candidate for lieutenant governor.

Last week, Doherty’s campaign manager Corey Platt left the campaign for another political opportunity in Missouri. Doherty’s sister Virginia McGregor replaced him, with the campaign saying it is actively seeking a new, full-time manager. Although a campaign spokesman said Platt’s departure had nothing to do with Doherty’s gubernatorial ambitions bogging down, the timing of his exit will no doubt fuel speculation.

Doherty raised roughly $650,000 for his mayoral re-election campaign last year, but it’s not clear if any of that money is left for his statewide run.