Published in the York Daily Record, by Ed Mahon

September 6, 2014

Republican Gov. Tom Corbett made campaign stops in York County Saturday.

He met with some local Republican leaders and other supporters in West Manchester Township for a rally in the late afternoon.

In the early evening, he toured the York Fair, and he picked up snacks for his pets at Miss Lucy's Dog Treats in Memorial Hall.

Roxann Gallagher, owner of the dog treat business, wasn't too surprised that the governor stopped at her booth to pick up peanut butter bones and other treats.

"Actually, his wife has bought from me several times up at the Farm Show building. ... I think they really like their dogs, like most dog lovers," said a laughing Gallagher.

Corbett's York County stops came during a tough re-election campaign against Democrat Tom Wolf, a York County businessman. In a Franklin & Marshall College Poll released on Aug. 28, 49 percent of registered voters picked Wolf compared to 24 percent for Corbett. A survey of likely voters from Harper Polling, released Thursday, had better news for Corbett: He was down 11 percentage points.

Corbett said Saturday that the only poll that matters is Nov. 4, Election Day.

Mary Ann Raineri, a Republican from West Manchester Township, said she hopes things change for the governor.

"I'm optimistic. I think that people need to get to ... know his true record," said Raineri, a hairstylist and salon owner.

During Corbett's stop at Sunset Lane Park in West Manchester Township, Raineri joked with him about fair food. She wanted to know if he would be eating French fries.

Corbett later told a reporter that he started a diet about two weeks before last year's York Fair.

"So I really kept saying no to everybody. My wife kind of caved and had a little bit of funnel cake," Corbett said. "But I didn't even — I was real, real strict."

Corbett said he met his weight loss goal, went a year without a French fry and has had a few since.

"I'll taste, but ... it's a change of lifestyle," Corbett said.

In a veterans' tent at the York Fair, Antonia Rutherford showed the governor an 8-week old female puppy that will become a service dog for a veteran. The governor petted the dog and let her lick his nose. Rutherford laughed.

"Look how cute she's being," Rutherford said. "...That's adorable."

Later, some fairgoers stopped Corbett in Memorial Hall to pose for pictures with the governor.

Alex McGurk, 7, was one of them.

"I want to be the president," Alex, who wore a Penn State jersey, said afterward.

"He's very interested in politics," said his father, Ryan, of Springfield Township.

"So he knows there's steps do that," added his mother, Dana.

(Ed Mahon, "Gov. Tom Corbett campaigns at York Fair ahead of November election," York Daily Record, 9/6/14)