In Pa. governor's race, candidates run from being seen as an 'insider'

September 23, 2010
Tom Infield
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20100909_In_Pa__governor_s_race__candidates_run_from_being_seen_as_an__insider_.html

Both Pa Governor Candidate Want to be "Outside" Candiates

It seems as though the ultimate goal of th major candidates (Dan Onorate and Tom Corbett) of the Fall Governor election is to be seen as an "Outsider." Although this raises the question, that if by appearing like an outsider does it conclude that the candidates are inexperienced?

For Onorato’s campaign on being an outsider, he spoke about how he was not involved with Harrisburg because he never had a job in Harrisburg. At fourty-nine years old Onorato has “been in elected office for eighteen consecutive years.” He was Allegheny Country controller before becoming the Allegheny County executive in 2003. Also Onorato was a city council member in Pittsburgh. BY not having “Ties” with Harrisburg Onorato claims that, “It’s easier for me to change it Harrisburg.

Jim Hoefler is a political science professor at Dickinson College who was convinced by Onorato’s outsider claims.  Hoefler believes that since Onorato is in charge of Pittsburgh, he is not involved with the activities in Harrisburg. There, “He can’t be blamed, he can’t take credit” In order to make it seem like Corbett was inexperienced a “…Onorato news release blasted Corbett in somewhat self-contradictory terms.” And he called Corbett “an insider who doesn’t have the experience…. to lead Pennsylvania.”

Candidate Tom Corbett also wanted to b e thought as an outsider. He said that sixty-one his life in politics is dated all the way back to 1980s. In 1988, Corbett coordinated the presidential campaign for George H.W. Bush, and became U.S. attorney of Western Pennsylvavnia afterword. Corbett says because he has never had a legislative or executive branch position he is a “true outside.” He says he is a mere “Watchdog on public corruption.”

Gerald R.Shuster, another professor, this one from the University of Pittsburgh, has been persuaded by Corbett's outsider claims. He says that since Corbett. “… the attorney general, [voters] don’t perceive that as being in politics.” Shuster also defends Corbett by about how Onorato is not so much of an outsider to Harrisburg as he claims he is. Shuster said that Onorato helped with Allegheny County to impose a tax on drinks poured in bars.” Therefore to accomplish this, Onorato would have had to be quite involved in Harrisburg. Also, Corbett didn’t want to seem too inexperienced so he aired a TV commercial which basically stated his credential and such pertaining to being a prosecutor.

When it comes down to it, it is more likely that the candidate seems like “… a sort of outsider –insider…” rather than not appearing like insider.