Knox to launch ad blitz in race for governor

Democrat Tom Knox of Philadelphia was set to begin his campaign for governor today with a video ad on the Internet and an e-mail blast to 800,000 Pennsylvanians.

Knox, 68, who ran in the Democratic primary for Philadelphia mayor in 2007, is expected to largely finance his own campaign with the millions of dollars he has accumulated from decades in the insurance and banking industries.

Knox said he would base his campaign on calls for reform in Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania is one of the few states with no limits on campaign contributions. Knox said he would work to impose them.

He said he would also work to ban gifts and free meals to state officials from lobbyists, require public officials to quit before running for office and eliminate WAMs (or "walking around money") - the pool of funds that legislators use for special projects in their home districts.

Knox joins a Democratic primary field that includes announced candidates Dan Onorato, the Allegheny County executive, and Joe Hoeffel, a Montgomery County commissioner. State Auditor General Jack Wagner and Scranton Mayor Chris Dougherty also have said they will seek the nomination.

Two Republicans, state Attorney General Tom Corbett and U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach of Chester County, have announced plans to run.