Questioned candidate withdraws from Pa. governor’s race

HARRISBURG, Pa. - John Krupa, a self-proclaimed "tea party" candidate for governor of Pennsylvania, has withdrawn from the race in the face of a challenge of his petition signatures.

Krupa's lawyer, David Montgomery, said he signed the withdrawal papers on Sunday. He filed them Monday, just before a hearing on a challenge to Krupa's candidacy was to begin in Commonwealth Court in Philadelphia.

Krupa, a tavern owner from Lock Haven, was originally the Constitution Party nominee for governor but that party joined forces with a tea-party group and he used its label. At least one state leader of the tea-party movement called Krupa an impostor.

A Libertarian candidate, York lawyer Marakay Rogers, also faces a challenge in her bid to run for governor.

The major-party candidates are Republican Tom Corbett and Democrat Dan Onorato.