Despite Allegheny County Exec Dan Onorato's huge advantage in campaign cash, he failed to garner a State Committee endorsement from fellow Democrats last month in his gubernatorial bid. Auditor General Jack Wagner, who's running as a reformer, snagged a majority (153 of 304) of the votes cast in that beauty contest. Wagner also polls better against presumed Republican nominee Tom Corbett.In the Lehigh Valley, Onorato has picked up some endorsements, but not from Lehigh County Exec Don Cunningham or Northampton County Exec John Stoffa. Northampton County DA John Morganelli claims Onorato stiffed him when he ran for AG against Corbett last year, promising checks that must still be in the mail.
Now there's an anonymous anti-Onorato blog, Dan's Land of Make Believe. "The purpose of this blog is to expose Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato’s flip-flops, distortions and overall sketchy record. The track record he is touting across the state as a candidate for governor is truly make-believe. It would truly be a huge mistake to elect Dan Onorato the next Governor of Pennsylvania. For the record, I do not have a horse in this race at all. I am just doing my duty to provide my fellow citizens and voters with the truth. Over the next couple of months, I will be dropping in periodically to shed much needed light on Dan’s Land of Make-Believe, let’s hope someone is out there paying attention. If you have your own tale from Dan's Land Of Make Believe please feel free to share by posting a comment."
Update #2: According to Just Read It, Northampton County DA John Morganelli is sending emails to Lehigh Valley Dems that go something like this: "Please know that this man lied to me when I was running for AG in 2008. He then supported my opponent AG Tom Corbett after promising to help me. He also did not support Judge Jack Panella who recently lost a close race for Supreme Court. He turned his back on candidates from the Lehigh Valley and now wants our support."
So the best way to judge a politician's popularity is by how many other politicians endorse him? Not by how many people feel motivated to give him money?
ReplyDeleteMost of that money ($3M+) has been in his account since he ran for re-election to county exec unopposed in 2007. It's taken him 2 years to raise that other $3M, and most of that time has been with Rendell pushing HIS donors to open their books to Danny Boy
ReplyDelete"So the best way to judge a politician's popularity is by how many other politicians endorse him? Not by how many people feel motivated to give him money?"
ReplyDeleteI suppose that both are measures of polularity, and the most telling is how many are inclined to vote for him.
Onorato is Ok. You don't like him so you spin everything negative. You are so predictable Ohare.
ReplyDeleteThere you have it. An anon proclaims Onorato is "ok."
ReplyDeletei'm more interested in how Morganelli has made himself Jack Panella's mouthpiece. clever positioning, since Jack is prohibited from confirming, or denying, what Morganelli is claiming
ReplyDelete"and most of that time has been with Rendell pushing HIS donors to open their books to Danny Boy"
ReplyDeleteI can assure you Rendell's number one fundraising priority is, and has always been, getting people to open their books on his own behalf.
Onorato's biggest promoter has always been his roommate from law school or college, John Esty (sp?)who was Rendell's Chief of Staff for about 6 years. Esty capitalized on his relationship with Rendell to tout Onorato to Rendell's donors that Dan was the "chosen one". This has contributed greatly to Onorato's warchest. If it were not for Esty - Onorato's name wouldn't be known anywhere else but Allegheny County.
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