Democratic gubernatorial candidate Allyson Schwartz isn’t satisfied with opponent Tom Wolf’s responses to questions about his campaign financing.
The congresswoman is on week three of prodding Wolf about the nearly $4.5 million personal loan he took out to help fund his campaign. But she won’t say how she thinks he might be compromised, or what would be the worst-case scenario of a gubernatorial candidate with a loan to repay.
“Well it could be a distraction, for one,” Schwartz told reporters after delivering remarks to the Pennsylvania Press Club in Harrisburg Monday.
“And look, there may be answers. He may say, ‘Look, I have another pot of money sitting somewhere that’s going to pay it,’” said Schwartz. “This is unusual. It’s not standard practice. What does it mean? We should ask that question.”
Many have.
Wolf told the York Daily Record he can pay back the loan, and that it’s “utter nonsense” to suggest it jeopardizes employees of the Wolf Organization, where he still serves not as CEO, but as executive chairman of the board.
But Schwartz said even if there’s no smoking gun behind the loan, her questions are valid, because they come with the territory of a party primary.
“I’m asking these questions in a nice way,” Schwartz told the luncheon crowd at the Press Club. “He’s a Democrat. I’m going to ask them in a nice way. Do you think Tom Corbett and the Republicans are going to ask it nicely? I don’t think so.”
State Treasurer Rob McCord and former state environmental protection secretary Katie McGinty are also running for the nomination.
Schwartz said she believes the race is now between only herself and Wolf.
