Big money propels Wolf in Democratic race for governor
Tom Wolf suddenly is the leader of the pack.
How did the York County businessman go from worst to first in the gubernatorial polls -- even outscoring incumbent Gov. Tom Corbett? That’s pretty obvious: Money. Wolf has a lot of it, and he’s put that money where his political ambitions are -- donating about $10 million to his campaign, plus raising some $3.2 million from others.
That has enabled him to get out in front of the Democratic primary pack with a statewide TV ad blitz.
They’re pretty good ads -- warm and fuzzy and full of family values. They tout Wolf’s impressive educational background, his ideas for changing state government and his business experience.
The ads have allowed Wolf to introduce himself to Pennsylvanians beyond his hometown of Mount Wolf (named for his family) and south-central Pennsylvania.
In November polling, Wolf was at the back of the Democratic pack. Now he’s leading the charge against Gov. Corbett -- and, according to a new Quinnipiac poll, far outscoring the incumbent head-to-head. According to the poll, 52 percent of state voters would support Wolf, compared to 33 percent for Republican Gov. Tom Corbett if the general election were held last week. Wolf had wide leads over other Democratic hopefuls.
Clearly, the Corbett campaign is concerned about Wolf. It even has a nickname for him: “Tax Man Tom” (a reference to his stint as state revenue secretary).
But this costly ad campaign embodies a fundamental irony.
Wolf might have a good story to tell, but few would have heard it if he didn’t have the money for advertising.
Money has long been the lifeblood of politics. Wolf has the resources to tell his own story, but should you have to be independently wealthy to be governor? Of course not. But Wolf’s campaign finance reform proposals might make it harder for nonwealthy candidates to win office in the future.
He’s proposed:
• Limiting campaign contributions
from individuals and lobbyists to $5,000.
• More stringent reporting requirements.
• A voluntary public campaign
financing program.
• A requirement that third-party groups spending more than $10,000 be required to report the source of their funding.
These would be good -- and long overdue -- reforms.
But Wolf’s $5,000 contribution limit would not apply to those who spend their own money. His campaign said such restrictions would be unconstitutional.
So, is that what it takes to reform the influence of money in Pennsylvania politics? A wealthy candidate spending his own money to win election -- and then tightening the spigot of funding for future candidates who aren’t millionaires?
That would be ironic -- and some might even suggest stronger words.
At any rate, the General Assembly would have to approve such reforms, and that seems about as far-fetched as, well, Tom Wolf leading the primary pack. Hmmm... Well, it might be nice to at least have some campaign finance reform leadership in the governor’s mansion -- even if that governor essentially bought the house (with no mortgage).