Gerlach Quits (Pa) Gov. Race

BillLawrenceOnline.Com ^ | 1-7-10

[Tribune7]

Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6) announced today he was quitting his gubernatorial bid. Still in the race to represent the GOP in November are front-runner Attorney General Tom Corbett, National Guardsman Rober Allan Mansfield and State Rep. Sam Rohrer (R-128).

(snip)

There is speculation that Gerlach will seek re-election in his remarkably gerrymanded district which includes Lower Merion in Montgomery County, Coatesville and Yellow Springs in Chester County, a large section of Berks County and a small part of Lehigh County.

[Tribune7]

ping

[Tribune7]

ping

[SueRae]

I’m relieved. Corbett is a much stronger candidate and Gerlach will do fine in the congress. We need to keep his seat. If not him, then Kurt Scroeder. As long as it stays “R”.

[Erik Latranyi]

Sam Rohrer is a far, far better conservative than Corbett.

[Vigilanteman]

Good news if Gerlach runs for re-election to his old seat. I liked him, but felt Tom Corbett was clearly the better candidate.

[Tribune7]

Corbett is probably the best candidate but I’m going to be very tempted to vote for Rohrer.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Gerlach out of Gov’s race in PA, may run for reelection instead. Smart move here. Corbett should have an easier path to reclaiming the office for the GOP.

[yongin]

Vulnerable Dems are being pushed out and incumbents running for re-election are trying to distance themselves from the unpopular votes they made. Sestak is blasting Pelosi for the lack of transparency on the crafting of the ObamaCare. Blanche Lincoln is criticizing the sweet heart deal of Ben Nelson. I hope voters won't be so stupid in November.

[Impy]

What’s the skinny on Rohrer?

[Clintonfatigued]

He may wind up being Corbett’s running mate.

[Impy]

Yeah that’s a smart move for him. He was gonna be out of a job.

I wonder if the other house candidates (or at least Curt Schorder) would bow out.

[Impy]

There’s a thought.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I don’t think so, the Gubernatorial candidate doesn’t pick their running mate, you’d have to declare for that office, and there’s already several people running for it in the primary. Fmr. Gov. Mark Schweiker just endorsed Jim Cawley to run with Corbett.

[AuH2ORepublican]

Very smart move for Gerlach, who was not going to win the primary.

This raises three very good questions, two of which have been raised in this thread:

1. Will Gerlach run for reelection to PA-06?

2. If so, will state rep Curt Schroder, who was the frontrunner for the GOP nomination in PA-06, drop out in deference to Gerlach?

3. If Gerlach runs and Schroder doesn’t drop out, which one of the two would be our strongest general-election candidate? I think the answer is clearly Gerlach, who not only has won several very tough races in that district under very inhospitable environments, but also does not wear a mustache.

[Tribune7]

What’s the skinny on Rohrer?

He's a honest guy and a great conservative.

[Tribune7]

Very smart move for Gerlach, who was not going to win the primary.

A necessary move, anyway.

There are a lot of people who spent a lot of time and money in candidacies for the 6th District with the understanding Gerlach wasn't running.

Even if they drop out they are still not going to be happy.

[Impy]

One day the voters will pay for their prejudice against mustached candidates! ;)

[AuH2ORepublican]

I just hope that Gerlach doesn’t decide to jump into the U.S. Senate race (something with which he toyed before announcing for governor).

[fieldmarshaldj]

No, he just announced he’s running for reelection.

http://www.pa2010.com/2010/01/nrcc-welcomes-back-gerlach/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PA2010+%28PA2010.com+Feed%29&doing_wp_cron