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Rob McCord Throws Hat In The Ring For Pa. Governor

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- State Treasurer Rob McCord announced his candidacy for governor of Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

McCord is no stranger to Pennsylvania politics. Twice elected state treasurer, he says he's seen up close the damage Governor Corbett has done.

"I love being Treasurer. I'm very proud of the work we've done -- driving up efficiencies, protecting seniors, investing well, being a great fiscal watchdog. But every day, every week, I find myself fighting Tom Corbett," the suburban Philadelphia Democrat told KDKA political editor Jon Delano.

McCord says voters need a governor with his executive business skills to get things done -- and McCord says he'll start with public education.

"First of all, job one for the next governor is to reverse these horrible cuts in education. That's job one, by any means necessary, and one advantage I have is I'm a garrulous engaged person who gets along with people on both sides of the aisle," he said.

The Treasurer says it's very personal with him -- being raised by a single mother after a difficult divorce when he was just four.

"We sort of knew we were on the outs. We knew we were the poorest people in our neighborhood. Mom got dumped like a hot potato by a lot of people right after she got divorced from a high status person. It was a pretty painful period," McCord recalls.

McCord says his mother's commitment to public education made the difference to his future. Scholarships led him to Harvard and Wharton Business School -- and a successful career in finance.

"I am not a career politician," he said. "I was an entrepreneur. I am not the son or daughter of a career politician obviously."

And the Democrat thinks his very American success story makes him the strongest candidate to take on Corbett.

"I think people kind of like the idea of having a governor who's been through that, who's succeeded and said I want to be sure that other kids have the same shot at making their dreams come true that I had," he said.

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