Santorum eyes gubernatorial bid - stay the hell in VA Ricky!

[RamboLiberal]

Say it slowly: Gov. Rick Santorum.

The former Pennsylvania GOP senator, trounced in his re-election bid last year by seldom-seen Democrat Bob Casey Jr., apparently has grown weary of beating the drums about the ongoing terrorist threat as a senior fellow with the Washington-based Ethics and Public Policy Center.

The American Spectator reported last week that Santorum is seriously mulling a run for governor in 2010, when the race will be wide open. Term limits will force current Gov. Ed Rendell from seeking a third term.

Said one unnamed political adviser in The Spectator item: "Rick is a politician. He loves the competition and the process of running. He's getting back in and he's young enough that a gubernatorial run would set him up for greater opportunities politically down the road."

Of course, a Santorum gubernatorial bid is dependent on the Virginia resident being agreeable to actually living in Pennsylvania again. When he was a senator, you may recall, he found that idea abhorrent.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/whispers/s_530115.html

[Allenberg]

1. I hope he does run.

He'd never win.

[FREEWILL56]

5. Never say never

as somebody kept him in the senate for many years and I never expected the likes of W to be in the presidency for 2 terms. There are more republicons and dinos in Pa than we'd really like to admit. As to Casey running for governor, I think we should and could come up with a better candidate and Dan O is one possibilty. Casey is a big dissapointment to me. Santorum would be a dissaster for Pa and you really need a good candidate going up against him as he is a professional politician who specializes in his forked tongue.

[JPZenger]

2. The money will stay away from him

Yes, I'd love for Santorum to be the GOP nominee. In fact, maybe we can get a Bob Casey/Santorum rematch at the Governor level. After all, Casey always wanted to be Governor, and had to be pressured into the Senate race. Then Rendell can appoint a Dem replacement for Casey in the Senate.

In practice, the people with the money know that Santorum is damaged goods. The point spread was just too absurd in 2006. He'll just raise a few dollars from wackos.

[RamboLiberal]

3. I'd also put our Allegheny County Executive

Dan Onoroto against Ricky. Dan seems to be someone who would fight back against Ricky's insanity.

[Yellow Horse]

8. Dan O? You mean DINO, don't you...

...because he is one and arrogant to boot.

Onorato is the WORST possible choice the Dems could make. Anti-choice, against voter-verified paper ballots, won't listen to citizens -- NO WAY will I vote for that pompous jerk.

Now if you want someone from the West, how about Allen Kukovich -- he was only pseudo-damaged by the gun-totin' lying Bob Regola, possibly because Allen actually MIGHT have been able to by Ricky had he run for US Senate. Allen Kukovich is a great guy, admired across the state and even by many across the aisle.

Run, Allen, Run!

[sandrakae]

4. Just let that Motherfucker try to run for Governor. His residency will difinitely come into play.

[PhishWithLemon99]

6. Doesn't have a chance...

The Republican nominee for Governor's going to be Tom Corbett, and he will likely win.

On the Democratic side, Dan Onorato and Jack Wagner are going to fight it out and whoever gets the nomination's going to have a tough general election battle.

I've heard that Jonathan Saidel from Philly's thinking about running for Lt. Gov. He's an interesting guy, keep your eyes and ears open for what he's gonna do.

It's way too early to tell who else is going to run, but a Republican's probably going to win. Rick Santorum doesn't stand a chance...I think he actually got fewer votes than Lynn Swann.

[bronxiteforever]

7. Why do you think Corbett will win Govenor?

[PhishWithLemon99]

9. in PA...

the Governor's office has changed party hands every 8 years since George Leader was elected in 1954 and the state Republican machine basically fell apart. Our Gov is also usually of the opposite party of whoever's in the White House. Corbett's pretty popular and an attractive candidate. Plus, being a prosecutor's a very easy way toward the path of political success. They tend to have high popularity and there's not a whole lot to attack them on.

If Corbett's the nominee on the Repub side, it's gonna be a tight race. It's early, but I think Corbett's got about a 65% chance of winning if he runs.

[bronxiteforever]

10. I think the election cycle in PA knocks the AG out of the Gov race.

Corbett has to win reelection in 11/08 and immediately run for Governor in 2010-there is a 20 month run for state office there and it was put there by the legislature when they made the AG an elective office in 1980. It was done to stop the AG from being the Gov.
Witness Ernie Preate , Mike Fisher and Leroy Zimmerman-none were elected even though all tried. I think the cycle is against him.I would not rule out Pat Meehan getting the GOP nom. either.

[PhishWithLemon99]

11. I don't thnk...

the reason was to stop the AG from being Gov. All of Pennsylvania's row offices are up for election on the same cycle. The AG, Auditor General, and Treasurer all run on a cycle different from the Governor and Lt. Governor. I don't think it's to stop anyone from advancing, I think it's to create a reason to bother voting one year out of 4 and to make sure the big races aren't all bunched together and overshadowed by the top of the ticket.

I think the reasons Fisher, Zimmerman, and Preate lost went beyond the fact that they were Attorneys General elected two years before the Governor's race. In fact, no row office holder has been elected Governor in at least 60 years...maybe longer, but that's as far back as I can think off the top of my head.

Pat Meehan's also definitely one to watch, especially depending on how the Vince Fumo case ends up.

[CANDO]

12. I was reading the Patriot News and they mentioned Wagner as possible

Dem. front runner to succeed Rendel. He's the current Auditor General. He replaced Bob Casey at that position.