Cash Rules Everything Around Sen. Williams
Anthony Hardy Williams, the Philadelphia-based state senator who’s now running for governor, has raised $1.7 million since the beginning of 2010. Now he’s hitting the spotlight—TV ads!
The Inquirer reports Williams’ ads are going to begin running today in all markets except Philadelphia and we’ll be watching 30-second happy faces alongside and sharp buzzwords/phrases like “Plan,” “Controlling waste” and “Cleaning up Harrisburg” by early next week. So far, Dan Onorato is the only other candidate shoving his face into your living room.
While Williams’ numbers are impressive, what’s bizarre is where the money is coming from: school-choice advocates and political-action committees. Democrats for Education Reform gave Williams a whopping $750,000, though the nonprofit lacks a branch in Pennsylvania (its website claims branches in Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey Rhode Island and Wisconsin).
Students First gave Williams $250,000. This newish nonprofit is also about school choice, and its spokesman, Joe Watkins, is a Republican from Philadelphia.
Williams has also transferred money from his own PAC, Make A Difference, and stored up cash from his senate campaign committee into his governor’s war chest.
So, what we’ve gathered is that Williams supports school choice, wants to lower taxes and lock up the parents of problem children. Why not just run as a Republican?
According to fundraising numbers, Dan Onorato has taken in $1.1 million since Jan. 1, though has $6.7 million on hand. Tom Corbett has raised $1.8 million and has $4 million with which to put on red. Joe Hoeffel has raised $240,000 and owns $101,500 and Wagner raised $220,000 and has about $675,000.
We expect Joe Hoeffel to have a passive-aggressive field day with the sources of Williams’ contributors.
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1. Anonymous said... on Apr 7, 2010 at 08:44AM
“what ever happened to the idea of fundraising limitations?
”
2. Anonymous said... on Apr 7, 2010 at 01:31PM
“Joe Hoeffel is in this race for Pennsylvanians- not for big coal, gas, the insurance industry, or whatever other pockets these other candidates are in. Let's get real here. Joe is the true Democrat in this race.”
3. Anonymous said... on Apr 8, 2010 at 08:53AM
“This is such a joke. Why would any dem vote for williams, onorato or wagner when you have a true democrat (Hoeffel) running. God I hope the TV ads have no effect.”
4. Ray said... on Apr 8, 2010 at 10:44AM
“Have any individual voters given to Williams? How many? What role did Rep. Brady play? Is it true that he supportered Williams to bump Hoeffel?”