The Mayor demurs

From the Times-Tribune:

If Mayor Chris Doherty is running for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor next year, it’s news to him.

Posts on a message board on the political Web site www.keystonepolitics.com, speculated last week about the mayor running for the seat currently held by Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll. "No truth at all," Mr. Doherty said. "I just got re-elected. " Gov. Ed Rendell, who is up for re-election next year, is an ally of the mayor. However, Mr. Doherty said the governor hasn't asked him to run and he would say no if asked.

This guy raised almost a million dollars to get re-elected the mayor of a small city so I think he can raise enough money($5mil) to make a statewide bid. It stinks that you measure the viability of a candidate by the amount of money they can attract but that is the way of the world of politics. If Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll decides to bow out, and there is pressure on her to do that, he would be an attractive replacement. For all the ins and outs, and this and thats, and ticket balancing, no one votes for Lieutenant Governor or Vice-President. But they may get the top job. Just don't hurt the ticket.

LVDem calls it:

We're making waves here folks! That's a great mention. Follow my logic. Somebody close to Doherty plants the news here. The print folks pick it up. Doherty initially says he hasn't thought about the matter. His people float it again. Print folks pick it up again but this time Doherty says he is considering it as people from around the state are starting to approach him for a run. Two weeks later, Doherty makes a formal statement about whether or not he is running.