Guv race impacting PA12

The lack of interest in the Democratic primary for governor -- it wasn't until yesterday that one of the candidates, Dan Onorato, pulled ahead of "Don't Know" in polling -- may affect turnout and results in the 12th District special, writes Shira Toeplitz at CQ Politics:

“There’s going to be a lackluster turnout in part because of the governor’s race not generating the kind of interest that usually occurs, especially with an open seat,” said Jack Hanna, the chairman of the southwestern caucus for the state Democratic Party. “I don’t think the turnout is going to be massive.”

. . . “By normal off-year election terms, it will be higher than normal. Is it going to be momentous? I don’t think it’s reached that,” said Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), who has endorsed Onorato for governor.

Most of all, Wagner’s inability to raise as much money as Onorato made the gubernatorial race less competitive in southwestern Pennsylvania. This could change in the last couple weeks as he spends every penny to defeat Onorato, Doyle said.

“Wagner had to conserve his resources because he’s not as well-funded as Onorato.” Doyle added. “The last two weeks, whatever he has, is going to come out.”

The other two major Democratic gubernatorial candidates, former Rep. Joe Hoeffel and state Sen. Anthony Williams, have bases in southeastern Pennsylvania.

And while the Democratic Senate primary has become more competitive in recent weeks, that appears to be playing out much more in the southeastern Pennsylvania bases of Sen. Arlen Specter and his challenger, Rep. Joe Sestak .

“You would think that where there is a contested Senate seat race such as we have with Specter and Sestak, and there being an open gubernatorial seat race, the enthusiasm would be a lot more significant than it is,” Hanna said. “And it has just not happened.”