Spending tops $82M
HARRISBURG — Spending in Pennsylvania’s 2014 gubernatorial race exceeded $82 million, shattering a record set more than a decade ago by more than $12 million, according to campaign finance reports due Thursday.
That works out to $23.55 per vote cast in the Nov. 4 general election.
Most of the total — $60.6 million — was spent by Republican Gov. Tom Corbett and Democratic Gov.-elect Tom Wolf, according to the candidates’ reports. The remaining $22 million was spent by the three Democratic candidates Wolf defeated in the May primary.
The latest reports cover spending during the five weeks ending Nov. 24. The candidates spent $9 million during that period, which included the 10 days leading up to the election that were saturated with expensive TV attack ads.
Overall, Wolf raised and spent about $32.5 million, while Corbett raised and spent about $28 million.
Wolf, a businessman and first-time candidate, was elected with nearly 55 percent of the statewide vote, making Corbett the first Pennsylvania governor to be denied re-election in the 40 years the state has allowed its chief executives to serve two consecutive terms.
Wolf’s campaign support came from a variety of businesspeople and labor unions, as well as his wealthy family.
His biggest contributions in the latest reporting period included $200,000 from his father, William Wolf, and $150,000 from M. Thomas Grumbacher, chairman of The Bon-Ton Stores, who had previously contributed more than $2 million.
Wolf also received $45,000 from Richard Wade Vague, managing director of Gabriel Investments in Philadelphia, $40,000 from Steamfitters Union locals in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and $25,000 from the Democratic Governors’ Association.
Corbett relied heavily on the Republican Party and longtime supporters in business and politics.
The governor’s re-election committee received $110,000 from the state GOP, $85,000 from the PA Future Fund headed by Republican national committeeman Bob Asher and $25,000 from the political committee of his running mate, Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley.
Corbett also received $45,000 from the Erie Insurance political committee, $75,000 from John M. Templeton Jr., president and CEO, Templeton Foundation, and $25,000 from George Ball, CEO of the W. Atlee Burpee seed company.
The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association gave the two candidates $25,000 each.
