With John Hanger already kicking off the 2014 cycle and the parade of Pennsylvania Society receptions only a week away, Philadelphia magazine is getting in on the gubernatorial fever with a profile of rumored Democratic contender Rob McCord.

The magazine doesn't really answer the question it poses about whether McCord -- who still demurs on the odds that he'll throw his name officially into the governor's race -- could defeat Republican Tom Corbett and break the two-term cycle.

But it does offer an excellent description of the technocrat-turned-state treasurer's speaking style:

Brilliant babbling—if there is such a thing—is a McCord hallmark. The words tumble out of his mouth so relentlessly that talking to him feels less like a conversation than an unedited simulcast of his inner monologue. "So I fell in love with my wife, and also with microeconomics," he says at one point, as segue to a riff on the wrongheadedness of GOP opposition to tax incentives.

At times you want to roll your eyes. And yet the overall effect is undeniably impressive. Ebullient, inquisitive and, yes, a bit undisciplined, McCord is unlike any prominent politician to cross the Pennsylvania stage in years. And he's obviously having an awfully good time.

Gov. Tom Corbett sat down with Capitol reporters yesterday in three shifts, and was unusually expansive on how his tenure has gone so far and some thoughts on the final two years of his term.

Most notable was his foreshadowing of how he would answer detractors if he chooses to back a recommendation from his transportation funding commission.

One of its suggestions for raising billions in new annual infrastructure revenues is to lift the cap on wholesale gasoline and diesel, which currently is levied only on the first $1.25 per gallon.

As Karen Langley and I reported this morning, the governor said he's sticking to his no-tax hike pledge and that some will likely see a violation, before launching into a defense for doing so:

Mr. Corbett responded that other people will determine the answer: "If we do that, I think you'll hear both sides. But I will tell you this: It's an artificial cap."

"There's a tax rate on the wholesale price of gas, OK, so it should be the wholesale price of gas," he said. "Somewhere along the line the Legislature said, 'but we'll stop it at $1.25.' "

Corbett also cited the multitude of factors that influence prices at the gas pump, arguing that he wasn't convinced that consumers would see a jump in costs and suggesting his administration may be able to prohibit the increase from being passed along.

"When the oil companies are doing this, they look at the cost across the entire country, and there are multiple factors, not just one oil franchise tax here," he said. "They spread the cost over the entire country. Would there be an automatic quid-pro-quo from one to the other? I don't think so.

City Councilman Bill Peduto will confirm one of the less well-kept secrets in local politics on Dec. 13, when he makes what his holiday party invitation calls "a very special announcement.''

Mr. Peduto will officially throw his hat into the ring in a bid to wrest the Democratic mayoral nomination from Mayor Luke Ravenstahal.  The veteran East End councilman has made it clear for more than a year that he was likely to challenge the mayor.  Mr. Ravenstahl has yet to make a formal announcement of his re-election plans, but he said on the KD-PG Sunday edition several weeks ago that he planned to seek another term. 

City Controller Michael Lamb is also considered a likely candidate in the Democratic race.

Bill Shuster continues to follow in his father's footsteps, taking the reins as head of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. That makes the Blair County Republican -- whose father, Bud, was also transportation chair --  the highest ranking Pennsylvanian in Congress. 

Tracie Mauriello writes about Mr. Shuster's first press conference, including the fact that he said he's willing to look at gas tax hikes.