Five Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidates took the stage Tuesday night for a rare primary debate hosted by a non-partisan organization this cycle.
The debate was hosted by nonprofit newsroom Spotlight PA and a number of other state news outlets. It was held at Gettysburg College. In attendance were Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre, former western Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, Poconos heart surgeon Nche Zama, Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale, and conservative activist Charlie Gerow.
But four more candidates abstained from taking questions Tuesday, all of whom are, according to polls, currently leading the field: former federal prosecutor Bill McSwain, former Delaware County Councilman Dave White, and former Hazleton mayor and U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, and state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin.
By contrast, all five of Tuesday’s attendees have been polling in low single digits, though those same surveys have shown that a significant number of Republicans have yet to make up their mind in the primary. An Eagle Consulting Group poll released last week put the total of undecided voters as high as 44 percent.
In an effort to win over those voters, the five participants on Tuesday answered an hour-and-a-half of questions on transportation funding, election law, and some hot-button culture war topics among others.
On the first issue, most expressed frustration with Pennsylvania’s 57.6 cent gas tax, among the highest in the country,...
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