Hoeffel Announces Run For Pa. Governor

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel made it official Tuesday that he's a candidate for Pennsylvania's Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

The campaign is all about positioning. Where are you on the political spectrum, liberal, moderate, conservative? And, just as important, where are you, relative to your opponent?

Fox 29 Political Reporter Bruce Gordon attended a Hoeffel kick-off event in Harrisburg on Tuesday and said the candidate staked out a very clear place in this race for governor: hard left.

As if to showcase his liberal credentials, the former congressman asked abortion-rights icon Kate Michelman, a longtime friend, to lead his "Women for Hoeffel" effort.

"Never once did I ever have to worry about Joe Hoeffel knowing and understanding the critical importance of reproductive health and the right of women to decide for themselves, without the government's interference, when to become mothers," said Michelman, a NARAL Pro-Choice America pas president.

In front of a modest crowd of supporters and the merely curious in the Capitol Rotunda, Hoeffel offered a broad array of promises, from support for gay marriage to tax relief for seniors.

"I want to lead the Democratic Party to the progressive center of Pennsylvania politics, where we have a firm commitment for values that are socially liberal and programs that are fiscally responsible," Hoeffel said.

It will be an uphill fight. Central Pennsylvanians we talked to made it clear Hoeffel, despite being the party's candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2004, has big problems with name recognition.

"Know anything about him, anything about his plans?" Gordon asked.

"You know, I do not. Can't help you," one man said.

"Do you have any idea who Joe Hoeffel is?" Gordon asked a woman.

"No," she answered.

"Never heard of him?" Gordon followed-up?

"Nope."

"Name doesn't ring a bell?" Gordon asked another man.

"No," the man answered.

Then, there's Hoeffel's lengthy resume. Since 1998, he has won, lost or abandoned campaigns for five different elected office at the local, state and federal levels.

Gordon asked him about the perception that he may be too interested in the next challenge.

"I've never been willing to tread water. When I have felt that I could apply my talents and backgrounds to another position, I've attempted to do that," Hoeffel said.

Supporting gay marriage and abortion rights in socially-conservative Pennsylvania would make for a tough road in the general election.

To get there, Hoeffel will need to beat several Democrats, including the perceived front-runner, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, in the primary.

The expectation is that Onorato will outspend Hoeffel by a wide margin, Gordon reported.