The worst-kept secret in Delco politics was confirmed Wednesday night.
The Delco Republican Party endorsed County Council Chairman Tom McGarrigle to run for the 26th District state Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Ted Erickson.
It's hard not to like Tom McGarrigle. He's not really a politician. He's your neighbor, an everyman who for years has run a service station in Springfield.
He likely will face off against another blue-collar guy, John Kane, the business manager of Plumbers Union Local 690.
McGarrigle's biggest obstacle in this race is likely not going to come from Kane, or the Democrats. It might come from his own party.
I'm not talking about a primary fight. The Delco GOP does not look kindly on in-party dustups. They had other people interested in this seat. They are now all united behind McGarrigle.
Unfortunately for them, they're also united behind something else - the top of their ticket.
At the top of the November ballot will be the Pennsylvania gubernatorial battle.
Saying incumbent Republican Tom Corbett has some issues as he seeks a second term is a bit like saying the Titanic faced a little bump in the North Atlantic.
Corbett's poll numbers are at historic lows.
His lean budgets, and the perception that he did a slash and burn on education funding, has made him persona non grata in much of the Commonwealth.
Today the governor is expected to make his first visit to a public school in Philadelphia, where the district is still convulsing from the latest round of cuts.
Two different groups are planning to protest Corbett's visit.
It's also leaking out this morning that the governor might be reversing course in his upcoming budget address, proposing an increase in education spending.
Corbett delivered the goods in Delaware County when the refinery industry was no the ropes and in danger of ending a way of life.
But he remains a polarizing figure, both here and in much of the state.
It will be interesting to see how McGarrigle deals with the Corbett issue. The governor has made it clear that he is going to be spending a lot more time in crucial southeastern Pennsylvania and the vote-rich Philly suburbs.
I'll be interested to see if McGarrigle is by his side.
At this point, Corbett might need McGarrigle more than McGarrigle needs him.
This is not going to be a cakewalk for the GOP. The 26th District race is going to get a lot of attention as Democrats looks to chip away at the slim GOP edge in the state Senate.
Will voters 'raise Kane'? Or will they be beating the Tom-Tom with a big GOP sweep.
I'm already on record saying I think Corbett gets re-elected. Go ahead and laugh. Just remember where you heard it.
This one is going to be interesting.
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