The trials & tribulations of Tom Corbett

Gov. Tom Corbett has his hands full these days.

There’s that pesky new Democratic attorney general who keeps talking about looking into how the governor handled the Jerry Sandusky investigation when he was sitting in the chair she’s about to fill.

And the state continues to struggle economically. Budget boss Charles Zogby yesterday gave a grim update previewing next year’s budget.

And that ticking time bomb called the pension crisis seems to get louder each day. You can read about Corbett’s thoughts on the tough budget talks ahead here.

But there is one thing the governor probably was not expecting. While there are any number of Democrats jockeying for position to challenge the governor in two years, the name that popped up yesterday raised more than a few eyebrows.

That would be Bruce Castor. He’s a Republican.

The Montgomery County commissioner and former district attorney confirmed he is considering challenging Corbett in the GOP Primary.

You can check it out here.

Bucking the Republican establishment is not exactly new ground for Castor. He was the top vote-getter when he ran for Montco commissioner in 2007, but soon found himself on the outside looking in when his running mate Jim Matthews cut a deal with Democrat Joe Hoeffel. Castor was not shy - has he ever been? - about making his feelings known about the power play.

Castor is a very familiar face from his days as Montco D.A., when he seemed to hold a press conference every other day.

This would not be the first time he crossed paths with Corbett. He lost to him in the 2004 Republican primary for attorney general.

Yesterday Castor didn’t mince words in talking about the governor.

“Corbett is vulnerable, and we Republicans need to be thinking about changing horses,” Castor said. Yeah, but how do you really feel?

Geez, somebody needs to ask him what he thinks of the governor’s job in the Sandusky probe?

Here’s a thought. Maybe Joe Sestak will wait until after the party picks a challenger to run against Corbett, then decide whether he wants to run.

It would be the battle of the outsiders.

For an off-year election, the next two years heading into the Pennsylvania gubernatorial race look to be pretty interesting.

Unless, of course, you happen to be Tom Corbett.