Corbett campaign questions how Morganelli raising money

Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett's campaigns is questioning how Democratic opponent John Morganelli runs his candidacy while apparently not investing in staffers usually required to win statewide office.

Thirty-day post primary expenditure reports filed with the state show Morganelli's campaign did not make payments to any staffers since Jan. 1. It has paid two out-of-state consulting firms a total of nearly $12,000, its most significant investment.

Morganelli counters his campaign didn't need permanent staffers for his uncontested primary, and he's been able to raise money without them because of the contacts he's made as a district attorney in Northampton County for 16 years. 

But Corbett Campaign Mananger Brian Nutt said Morganelli's level of disclosure contrasts starkly with the attorney general's, who has made a significant effort to separate his re-election candidacy with his state office. He pointed out that Corbett has reported 201 expenditures since Jan. 1, many made to an array of staffers.

Morganelli's fundraising total -- he has $618,817 on hand -- in particular raises questions, Nutt said.

"Obviously I've been around politics for a while," Nutt said. "You need people to raise money ... who's helping him? Who's advising him?

"We're to believe John Morganelli raised $700,000" without paid staffers? Nutt said. "$225,000 in the last year?"

His comments are a response to Morganelli's accusations, stemming from a newspaper story, earlier this week that Corbett has created a "big blur" between his campaign and state office. He was referring to two campaign staffers, including Nutt, who also work in Corbett's state office. Nutt took a leave of absence last month to run Corbett's campaign.

Morganelli said Nutt's remarks don't make sense.

"I don't know what the point here is," he said. "My money is primarily being raised by those who have contributed to me the last 16 years. I have volunteers. I don't know why you have to have staffers to raise money."

He also indicated he has added campaign staffers since the report was filed, and he said those additions will be evident when he files his expenditure report six weeks before the election.