Tom Wolf has been everywhere lately, with a new ad or video seemingly every day. It appears that the PA GOP has noticed and may see the candidate gaining steam.
Of course, the sincerest form of flattery the opposing party can give a candidate is attention, and the GOP is doing just that with Tom Wolf. Although the party has previously kept its attacks solely on Allyson Schwartz, this new missive from the Republicans shows the dynamics of the Democratic primary could be changing.
The state Republican Party sent out a press release today blasting Wolf for self-funding his campaign and trying to buy the election.
“Tax Man Tom Wolf wants Pennsylvanians to do as he says, not as he does,” PA GOP Communications Director Megan Sweeney said. “After saying that a self-funded candidate ‘shouldn’t be a candidate,’ Tom Wolf has contributed $10 million to his own campaign. All told, Tom Wolf has given himself 77% of his total campaign funds.”
(The name “Tax Man Tom” is Wolf’s designated GOP nickname. It comes from his service and record as Gov. Rendell’s Revenue Secretary and not, sadly, from the 1966 Beatles classic.)
The most damning charge thrown at Wolf is that after previously criticizing self-financers, he gave $10 million to his own campaign. Back in 2008, Wolf spoke about a potential 2010 run to Brett Lieberman of the Patriot-News.
“I could self-finance, but if a candidate has to do that he shouldn’t be a candidate,” Wolf said.
To be fair to Wolf he is not completely self-financing his campaign, although the $10 million he and his wife donated does make up a large part of his current haul.
“Governor Corbett has taken millions from oil and gas companies while giving them a free ride. Meanwhile our schools and middle class families are struggling,” Wolf spokesman Mark Nicastre told PoliticsPA. “Tom Wolf will be a different kind of leader who will make the gas companies pay their fair share to help fund our schools for a change.”
In addition to the $10 million he contributed to himself, he also raised $3.2 million from other contributions, just about on par with the other Democratic candidates in the race.
The PA GOP also accused Wolf of being a hypocrite for advocating for $5,000 individual contribution limits. The article they cite, however, concerns a campaign pledge made by Governor Rendell. But Wolf’s policy plan does state that he supports a contribution limit of $5,000 per year for individuals and lobbyists.
Other Democratic candidates running for Governor include Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, State Treasurer Rob McCord, former DEP Secretaries Katie McGinty and John Hanger, Lebanon County Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz and minister Max Myers.
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8 Responses
No one should refer to Tom Wolfe as a “Dark Horse.” If you understand politics, then you know he is the Front Runner at this point. It remains to be seen if he is a Rank or a Closer.
I keep hearing from my friends that Corbett wants Swartz or Wolf as their opponent. I have heard both claims. Running ads against Swartz and Wolf belies that claim. Of course I am sure some of the people from whom I have heard these claims will say it is all a charade to mislead Democratic voters.
Defeating One-Term Tom Corbett will not be a cake walk but if the Republican candidate is so low in the polls of even his own party members he can not afford to wait and see who is the Democratic candidate. Corbett has unlimited money from the gas drilling Corporations that bought the office for him 4 years ago. What he does not have is popular support among voters (even Republican voters). Yes, I know many Republicans will just go with the party leadership and vote for Corbett in the Primary. It’s not like they have a lot of choices.
Since Tom and I both have beards, we have joked about forming “Beards for Governor.” All joking aside, I am circulating Tom Wolf’s petition. The ad just reinforces my opinion.
Anyone but McCord! I’m a Dem and can’t seem to stomach the man…
Wolf’s background is very intriguing! He owns a manufacturing business, and has employees. McCord made millions in finance and has little economic “growth” to show for it, beyond in his own bank account….
It must be making their heads explode that a Democrat has more money than they do. How about this match up: A hugely successful private sector businessman vs. a career public sector employee with a dismal track record?
Keep up the good tom people love that you will be taking votes from mccord this will allow one of the women to win in may.
How sorry the Corbett camp is. They confuse insults for insight, and they will lose.
Corbett’s biggest fear this fall is an opponent with money who received his PhD from MIT. Wolf’s family understands that an early significant insertion of cash provides him with a chance to air his story to voters. Corbett received 10 years of free media from his jobs as Attorney General and Governor. I bet the free media was worth at least $10 million.
Schwartz or McCord should be taking aim at Wolfe. He is the dark horse who can upset them. If he were to make it to the general, beating Corbett isn’t an upset. It is expected.