Gunnison's Odd Pick

Matt Best posted an interesting tidbit on the commissioners' race over at his Courage of Conviction blog:

Ray Zaborney is Karen Gunnison’s campaign manager. Let’s see, hire the guy that almost lost Shuster’s seat, then goes on to do a great job with Swann’s campaign. Smart move there by the establishment candidate.

Not knowing Mr. Zaborney personally, it's hard to comment on his qualifications. After all, Swann was a Hail Mary pass from the beginning, and Shuster did his best to embarrass himself in the face of an intense, well-funded challenge. That said, both campaigns were among the most mediocre Republican efforts in recent memory, particularly in south-central PA.

Eichelberger, in contrast, is building his team primarily through his personal local contacts in Mechanicsburg and across Cumberland County.

One might suggest that the core of the Gunnison campaign consists simply of a vindictive personal swipe of GOP leaders at Eichelberger. Whether or not this is the case, putting a veteran party soldier at the helm makes the party connection appear stronger, and increases pressure on the Republican rank and file to deliver victory for Gunnison on May 15.