Republican gubernatorial candidate stumps in Robinson

A copy of The Wall Street Journal was Scott Wagner’s chosen prop Friday afternoon as he made his way through the lobby of Central Diner & Grille in Robinson.

“U.S. had more jobs than jobless,” Mr. Wagner read to a diner patron, scanning his finger across the front page of the newspaper.

“Then you go to A16,” he continued, flipping to the inside, “and it says, ‘Now hiring everywhere.’”

The success of the national economy has been an overarching theme for Republican candidates across the country this year, including Mr. Wagner — who’s running as the GOP’s nominee for governor of Pennsylvania.

And even though a poll released this week by Franklin & Marshall College showed him behind incumbent Democrat Tom Wolf by double digits, his messaging was undeterred during the quick afternoon campaign stop in the Pittsburgh area. It was business as usual for Mr. Wagner.

“He’s into the old-fashioned style,” said Andrew Romeo, his spokesman, pointing to the candidate as he bounced from table to table in the dining room.

With just under five months to go until the election, Mr. Wagner described himself as a “private sector guy” who “is going to be brutally honest about problems.” Has he been too negative on the campaign trail, as critics have said?

“No, I’m pointing out that there are opportunities, you know, to change something,” he said.

“At the end of the day, the people of Pennsylvania deserve better than what we’re getting,” Mr. Wagner added. “I mean, we have unemployment that is 20 percent above

the national average. We have a heroin opioid crisis, a skilled labor crisis, the mental health crisis. We’ve got to start talking about it.”

Beth Melena, spokeswoman for Mr. Wolf, called Mr. Wagner “the very worst of Harrisburg.”

“He consistently puts lobbyists and special interests over hardworking Pennsylvanians,” Ms. Melena said. “He’s leading the charge to block a commonsense severance tax to protect big oil and gas companies and wants to let corporations avoid paying their fair share of taxes at the expense of Pennsylvanians.”

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which handicaps governor’s races, shifted the Pennsylvania race from “lean Democrat” to “likely Democrat” on Friday — signaling Mr. Wolf’s improving chances at defending his seat.

In addition, Mr. Wolf has a large fundraising advantage. He began June with a nearly 10-to-1 cash advantage over Mr. Wagner. New campaign finance reports show Mr. Wolf with $15.2 million in his account and Mr. Wagner with $1.6 million in his.