Corbett adviser to run Santorum’s Pa. campaign

Gov. Tom Corbett’s longtime political adviser has been named to lead the Pennsylvania ground game for Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum.

But Corbett cautions not to interpret that as an endorsement.

Brian Nutt ran Corbett’s campaigns for attorney general, and governor. When Corbett endorsed businessman Steve Welch for U.S. Senate, Nutt was at the state Republican Committee’s winter meeting, pacing next to the set of chairs where the governor met privately to make his pitch to committee members.

Now, Santorum’s campaign has tapped Brian Nutt to be the Pennsylvania state campaign director.

Corbett said Tuesday that doesn’t affect his presidential pick in the slightest.

“Do not read anything into that, OK? Is that plain and simple? Don’t try to read between the lines,” the governor said. “It has nothing to do with it.”

During a news conference Tuesday, Corbett also said he backs a bill before Pennsylvania’s House that would require women to undergo an ultrasound prior to an abortion.

Unlike similar bills in other states, the Pennsylvania bill would not require an internal probe. While Corbett says he would oppose such an invasive procedure, he says he sees no problem with a mandatory ultrasound.