One of the advantages of a self-funding candidate is that he or she can doesn’t have to be stingy in the early stages of a campaign.
Exhibit A: the latest mail piece from Tom Wolf for Governor. The York County businessman this week unleashed a glossy booklet in the shape of Pennsylvania.
His campaign said the piece went out to about 2,000 Democratic elected officials and state committee members throughout Pa. It’s 6 pages, back and front.
Essentially it distills information about Wolf’s bio which is also on his website (he ran his family business and served as Revenue Secretary, loves working people, etc).
One section stood out a bit: the one focused on the Democratic primary.
“The Democratic Primary for Governor is wide open,” it says. “Approximately half of all voters are undecided. No candidate begins the race with over 20% support.”
According to the latest public poll, from Quinnipiac in June, that’s true. That survey showed Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz with 18% of the primary followed by former DEP Sec. Katie McGinty (5%), Treasurer Rob McCord (4%) and Wolf (2%).
But an internal poll commissioned by Schwartz’s campaign and released Wednesday showed her with 34%, to 15% for McGinty, 11% for Wolf and 10% for McCord.
The piece also reiterates the fact that Wolf pledges $10 million of his own money to the race – hence the budget for nice mailers. It goes on to make the case that Wolf’s biz background would create the strongest contrast with Gov. Tom Corbett.
It was produced by DC-based mail firm Mack Sumner Communications, who has longstanding ties to Wolf’s chief adviser Mary Isenhour.
Given the Pa. Dems’ high threshold required to win state committee backing, it’s unlikely even the fanciest of mail pieces will score Wolf an endorsement. But who doesn’t enjoy a political mailer?
When open, it’s literally too big for our scanner. The image below is meant to give a sense of the aesthetic.
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5 Responses
An informal personal poll of DEP folks says Hanger over McGinty. And you are absolutely right, John Hanger by far has best-defined his policy and plan. As a woman, of course I would like to see a woman as governor but I will not vote for Allyson Schwartz just because of that reason. John Hanger has my vote because I want what is best for Pennsylvania overall.
Eric Bradway Former Lower Merion Constable Is Running for Governor on the Democratic Ticket and will spend 20 Million Dollars on the Race
Do you mean Kathleen Kane?
Morph them together and you’ve got Kathleen McGinty
Wolf has the best story and I think the most money ($10 million). Hangar seems to have the best policy. Schwartz has the women behind her and McCord has the “Harrisburg Infrastructure” behind him!
The would be the best candidate if they morphed into one!