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Incumbent AG, Dem candidate for treasurer make most of festival
WAYNESBURG - Politicians were plentiful, but, unfortunately, raindrops were not at Waynesburg's famous Rain Day festival Tuesday.
Since hundreds of potential voters fill High Street throughout the day, office seekers often use the popular event as a campaign stop. This year, incumbent state Attorney General Tom Corbett and state treasurer candidate Rob McCord visited Waynesburg to enjoy the festivities and meet constituents.
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"One, it's fun. It's a lot of fun. And two, it's a nice way of paying respect to a community and its traditions," said McCord in explaining why he came to Waynesburg on the town's most famous holiday.
McCord, a Democrat from Montgomery County, will face the Republican nominee, fellow Montgomery Countian Tom Ellis, in the Nov. 4 general election.
Corbett, a Republican from Allegheny County, is trying to secure a second full term as attorney general, but he will have to defeat Democrat John Morganelli of Northampton County in the fall.
The attorney general has sparked headlines recently because of corruption charges against a dozen former and current Democratic lawmakers and staffers, including DeWeese's chief of staff.
The indictments raised Corbett's profile and placed him on the short list of potential gubernatorial candidates in 2010. Corbett is currently focused on the attorney general's race, but he did not reject the possibility of higher office during an interview Tuesday.
"We'll see what happens later," he said. "I did not get into this office to run for governor, and right now my calendar only goes to November 4."
Morganelli has criticized Corbett's handling of the corruption investigation, saying he unfairly targeted Democrats and not Republicans. People affiliated with the House Democratic caucus stand accused of illegally rewarding campaign work with taxpayer-funded bonuses to state employees.
Corbett said the investigation involved policymakers for both parties, and he anticipates more arrests as the probe continues. He said his office filed corruption charges against more Republicans than Democrats during the past four years. Most of those arrests involved officials on county and municipal levels.
Corbett touted his office's investigations of child sexual predators, drug dealers, elder abuse and public corruption.
Agents from the attorney general's office pose as children in Internet chat rooms to find people trolling the Web for sex with minors. The operation nabbed 151 suspected predators since its creation three years ago.
"I know as a grandparent, that issue really concerns me," said Greene County Commissioner Archie Trader, who is supporting Corbett in the attorney general race.
McCord, the candidate for treasurer, is a former venture capitalist. He said he can use the skills he honed in the private sector to control government spending and encourage economic development.
"I am a prudent-minded business person who knows how to protect public finances," McCord said.
He said he could use state investments to encourage companies into setting up shop in Pennsylvania. He also would like to use the treasurers' audit authority to curb waste.
