By Peter L. DeCoursey
Bureau Chief
Capitolwire
HARRISBURG (Jan. 22) – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Knox dropped his bid for the Democratic nomination for governor, and endorsed rival candidate Dan Onorato, the Allegheny County executive.
Knox said he felt Onorato and he agreed on such a broad range of issues that it would be counter-productive for both to spend more than $10 million “to beat each other up” in the primary election, “… and help the Republican win” in November.
Also seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in the primary are Auditor General Jack Wagner, Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty and Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel.
Analysts said the departure of Knox helps Onorato most, since all of the other candidates trail Onorato by margins of 10-1 or more in campaign funding. But some also said it gives Hoeffel or Doherty an opportunity to emerge as the eastern, more liberal alternative to Onorato. Wagner has also predicted his years as a statewide candidate will give him votes which are not yet showing up in polls, and be the equal of Onorato’s TV ad blitz.
In a conference call with reporters days after sources confirmed he would leave and back Onorato, Knox said family reasons led to his departing the race.
He declined to say what those family reasons were, other than to deny comments by staff that his family did not want him to spend any more money on campaigns. He spent $11 million to finish second in the Philadelphia Democratic Mayoral Primary in 2007.
Knox dismissed the idea that money was a factor in his withdrawal or in his family’s concerns.
“My net worth is substantial, to put another $10 million or $15 million [into a campaign], it wouldn’t have put a big dent in my lifestyle, wouldn’t have put a little dent in it,” he said in his conference call withdrawing from the race. Earlier, he said: “I was just about to put $5 million in when we decided” not to run. “It’s not the money, it’s not the money … I can afford this if I want to.”
Knox also said: “Like my wife says, we can’t spend what we make, and she tries.”
Polls showed his previous campaign spending for mayor had not created a lasting public image for Knox and his personal campaigning was not going well, staff and Democratic insiders said. During one event, he told reporters, speaking of statewide reform efforts: “Maybe the wealthy have an advantage,” because as candidates, they need special interest campaign contributions less, he said, adding: “Usually people that are wealthy can’t be bought. I am not saying that people who are poor or middle class shouldn’t participate …”
As to why he endorsed Onorato, Knox highlighted the Allegheny County executive’s experience “hiring people and holding them accountable,” and said: “I’ve always thought the guy was a good candidate.
“I always thought the only two people who could win this race were me or Dan. I never thought the other people could. You have to get your message out and the only other person who could get the message out was Dan,” because of Onorato’s $6.5 million in fund-raising through the end of last year.
Unlike Tom Wolf, another millionaire Democrat, who ended his gubernatorial campaign last year, Knox said he had given no thought to severance or pay for his campaign workers. Wolf paid his consultants and staff as if they had worked for him until the primary day coming this May.
Knox said he would donate e-mails lists and other assets to the Onorato campaign.
While several Knox allies and sources said campaign manager Josh Morrow had been trying since Monday to stop Knox from leaving the race, Knox said Morrow had been supportive, although initially shocked.
Knox said he first told Onorato he would leave the race during a meeting Monday, then met again with him Thursday morning.
Knox said of Morrow: “When I told Josh, I think he almost fell off his chair. He wanted to make sure I thought this through. He is supportive of the decision” now however.”
He praised Morrow’s loyalty and said the rest of the staff deserved no severance pay because they had only been around “for a couple of months, at most.”
Knox denied accounts from both campaigns that he had told Onorato he would be interested in an appointment to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
He said: “That’s the last job I would want,” because of its relative lack of power to change and reform government, which Knox said would be his top reasons to serve in any government post. Asked if he asked Onorato for that appointment, Knox said: “No, and I mean I never asked and he never offered. It’s inappropriate for me to ask him for anything. After he’s elected, and I wanted something, that would be the appropriate time to ask him.”
