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Judge Rules Montgomery County Man Can Remain On Ballot To Challenge Corbett In Republican Primary

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- A Commonwealth Court judge has ruled that a conservative challenger to incumbent Governor Tom Corbett should be allowed to remain on the Republican ballot in May's primary. The judge rejected a challenge to Bob Guzzardi's nominating petitions.

Franklin and Marshall College pollster and political analyst Terry Madonna does not believe that Bob Guzzardi, a self-described Republican independent from Montgomery County, is much of a threat to defeat Tom Corbett in the primary. But Madonna says the last thing that the poll-challenged incumbent needs as a candidate of his own party attacking him from the right.

"Someone arguing that he's not a true conservative, that he's not a true Republican," says Madonna, "particularly in a primary when Governor Corbett is doing everything he can to win back a significant percentage of Republican voters."

And while Madonna believes a Guzzardi win is not likely, he says there is the real possibility he could make a strong showing in the primary that would embarrass Corbett.

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