New Onorato Ads Hit Corbett on Experience, Gaffe

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato is airing two new television attack ads targeting Republican front-runner Tom Corbett's gaffe about the work ethic of jobless Pennsylvanians, his opposition to taxing natural-tax drilling and his lack of executive experience.
      
The 30-second TV commercials went up Wednesday and are expected to air in multiple media markets across the state, said Onorato campaign spokesman Brian Herman said Thursday.
      
One ad features a smiling Onorato in a kitchen, holding a photograph of Corbett. He reminds viewers that Corbett is running against him and not Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, who is stepping down in January, then directs his remarks at Corbett.

"I'll make the gas drillers pay their fair share. You won't. And I've helped created jobs. You never have,'' Onorato says.

The other ad shows a group of unemployed Pennsylvanians watching Corbett's image on TV and listening to a recording of what is purportedly a direct quote from comments he made to reporters in July about the jobless spurning job offers so they could stay on unemployment.

In fact, the recording combines two previously separate excerpts from the recording, including one in which Corbett was paraphrasing an employer. However, his point -- which drew criticism from labor unions and editorialists -- was clear.

"The jobs are there. People don't want to come back to work while they still have unemployment,'' Corbett is heard saying. The audience in the ad responds angrily.

"No one here would rather collect unemployment than work,'' says one man.

"Tom Corbett, you just don't get it,'' says another.
      
Herman did not immediately return a telephone message Thursday night seeking information about the cost of the ads.
      
Corbett campaign spokesman Kevin Harley said the first ad shows Onorato is trying to distance himself from Rendell, whose approval rating was measured at 35 percent last month in a Franklin & Marshall College poll. Rendell has been featured in at least one of the anti-Onorato ads aired by the Corbett campaign.

"He's obviously running as far away from his role model, Ed Rendell, as he possibly can,'' said Harley, renewing his charge that an Onorato victory would amount to a third Rendell term and lead to higher taxes and increased state spending.
      
Herman said the new ads are designed to bolster Onorato's stance on a handful of important issues, including the proposed tax on natural-gas tax that he supports and his seven-year track record as Allegheny County's elected executive.

"They certainly are issues that voters care about, and they are issues on which Dan is the strongest,'' Herman said.
      
The candidates are scheduled to hold their second televised debate in Pittsburgh on Saturday night at 7 p.m. on NBC10 and their third and final one in Philadelphia on Monday night.