While Gov. Tom Corbett is furiously trying to wipe the egg off his face after his anointed candidate in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate got his behind handed to him, he just might have other worries.
His popularity continues to tank. Party insiders are moving away from him. He’s on something of an island.
Now he needs to focus not on the November general election, but on his own future.
I’m not sure if Tom Smith wants to embrace the governor after running against him and the party and crushing Corbett’s guy, Chester County tech entrepreneur Steve Welch. He came in third, behind another conservative firebrand, Sam Rohrer.
Corbett is now looking distinctly like a very rare species in Pennsylvania – a one-term governor. It hasn’t happened since Milton Shapp way back when.
But Corbett is giving every indication he could be headed down that road, with a record in his first two years that makes you wonder how he got elected in the first place.
Now he just might have a new worry. And his name is not Joe Sestak.
Yes, I know I’ve been harping on the idea of the admiral-turned-congressman who first beat his own party for the U.S. Senate nomination before losing to Republican Pat Toomey, making a run for the governor’s mansion.
Now I’m hearing another name could be interested. I won’t tell you where I heard it, except to say that I respect his opinion and consider him to be expert in all matters political.
Corbett shouldn’t be fretting Sestak. He should be looking out for Bob Casey Jr.
Yep, our current Democratic U.S. Senator.
Casey should be able to prevail against the little-known Smith. That’s when he just might turn his eyes on the governor’s mansion. It’s not like he’s a stranger. After all, his father served two terms as governor.
It’s that name – instantly recognizable in every corner of the state – that has been one of Casey’s most potent weapons in his political career.
He just might be the guy to break the streak of two-term governors this state routinely has produced, with Democrats and Republicans swapping control every eight years.
Casey might have to fend off Sestak in the primary, unless he can convince the admiral to call off the dogs, and then go after Casey’s seat in the U.S. Senate. After all, that’s what he wanted when he challenged Arlen Specter and his own party.
Can you say Sestak vs. Meehan for the U.S. Senate seat?
We’re getting ahead of ourselves.
For now, keep an eye on Casey. And another one on Corbett. It’s entirely possible they could be on a collision course.
Corbett is the one who should be sweating.
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