Daily News columnist John Baer writes today about Butler's Daryl Metcalfe and his bid for the lieutenant governor job, possibly on the undercard with Tom Corbett:

Metcalfe, 47, is as conservative as it gets. He opposes routine resolutions honoring Muslims (because they "do not recognize Jesus Christ as God") and domestic-violence awareness (because language related to men suggests "a homosexual agenda").

But he has the last ballot position in a field of nine unknown Republicans for lieutenant governor and could - based on name ID among hard-core GOP voters, especially in western Pennsylvania - prevail in the May 18 primary.

And that could be interesting.

"Once I get elected lieutenant governor," he says, "both parties will move to abolish the office . . . I will not be a silent sidekick."

In fact, he'd be a double-barreled booster - for gun rights and the political right.