As I watched yesterday morning's second gubernatorial debate between Republican Gov. Tom Corbett and Democrat challenger Tom Wolf, I was struck by the same thing I was thinking during their first clash a couple weeks before.
Who was that guy with the white hair impersonating Gov. Corbett. And more importantly, where the hell has he been for the last three years.
Corbett again was engaging and feisty as the candidates went at it over education funding, property taxes, taxing natural gas extraction from the Marcellus Shale region, and even pornographic emails.
Last night I welcomed the leaders of the Delaware County Republican and Democratic parties for our live-stream Internet show, 'Live From the Newsroom.' We talked politics with the election looming five weeks away. If you missed the show featuring GOP Chair Andy Reilly and Dem boss David Landau, you can catch the replay here.
Reilly arrived first and I couldn't resist asking him the same question. Where has this Corbett been for the last two years?
Reilly managed a smile.
He understands the dilemma Corbett - and local Republicans are in. The governor waited forever to get his message out there, especially when it comes to education funding. He now is forcefully refuting the charged that he cut billions from education, instead pointing a finger at former Gov. Ed Rendell, who used federal stimulus funds to fill budget gaps. When Corbett arrived and the federal money disappeared, he was hanmmered with the image that has stuck to him ever since, the guy who took a meat cleaver to education.
Democrats, including Landau, say the governor still had other options to fill those gaps but chose not to use them.
In the meantime, Corbett failed for two years to adequately respond, he let his foes paint him into a corner.
Now he's furiously trying to dig out of a hole that he allowed to happen. I'm just not sure he has enough time before the election to change people's minds.
In the meantime, Reilly and Landau are busy making sure they get out the vote at the local level. Reilly can't allow Republicans to throw up their hands, thinking they have not shot in the governor's race and deciding not to bother to get out to vote. Likewise, Landau can't let Dems think they have it made and risk not pushing the turnout either.
There are some crucial local races out there, including what is likely the most high-profile race in the state outside the governor's battle. That would be the heated fight for the 26th District State Senate seat being vacated by the retiring state Sen. Ted Erickson. Republican County Councilman Tom McGarrigle is looking to keep the seat in the GOP's hands. He's being pushed hard by Democrat union leader John Kane. Democrats are thinking they have a shot at taking control of the state Senate, wresting at least one half of the Legislature from GOP control.
We're five weeks away.
I will be very interested to see if Corbett can turn up the heat, and how Wolf will do under the microscope now that he is no longer an unknown, but in fact the clear favorite.
Buckle your seat belts, it could be a bumpy ride.
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