Pennsylvania governor race: Profiling Tom Corbett

Matt O'Donnell Image
Friday, October 31, 2014
VIDEO: Pa. governor race: Profiling Tom Corbett
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett is working to convince voters he deserves re-election based on his record and experience.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett is working to convince voters he deserves re-election based on his record and experience.

The Republican is trailing in the polls behind Democratic challenger Tom Wolf just days before Election Day.

He won four years ago with 54% of the vote and was easily elected as Pennsylvania's attorney general twice before that.

Though he's now the underdog, he is hardly acting as if he's already lost. In fact, he has already chosen a top issue if he wins another four years.

"What I'm going to do this time around is call a special session on pensions, not just on our state pensions, but I will tell you our municipal pensions around the state are in trouble too," Corbett said.

Corbett admits he didn't accomplish pension reform or privatize the state liquor store system, but argues complicated issues sometimes need more time.

He points to the massive transportation funding law as proof he can get things done.

"We're going to have better roads, better bridges, which is attracting business. That is important to us, to attract more revenue to Pennsylvania, more businesses and more jobs to Pennsylvania," Corbett said.

Corbett uncapped the state gas franchise tax, which the group Americans for Tax Reform claims violated Corbett's campaign pledge to not raise taxes.

But the governor has held the line on state income taxes, and warns his opponent will not.

"He won't tell you how much he's going to tax, he tells you he's going to spend much more money. In fact, if you look at his plan, and we've counted it, it's over six billion dollars of additional spending," said Corbett.

Governor Corbett correctly predicted after our interview that the Inquirer would not endorse either him nor his opponent, Tom Wolf. The paper instead offered a detail list of the issues in the race, and where each candidate stands.

Corbett says this will be his last campaign - and he believes it will be a winning one.