Corbett gains national stature with handling of Penn State scandal

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett’s national standing is on the rise as he addresses the ongoing scandal involving Penn State and former Nittany Lions assistant coach Sandusky.

The governor isn’t known for shooting the breeze with reporters at every opportunity. It might be the most talked-about difference between him and his voluble predecessor, Ed Rendell.

Christopher Borick, a political science professor at Muhlenberg College, said Corbett may not be a natural media hound, but he has fared well over the past week under the national spotlight.

“He’s very comfortable in certain situations,” Borick said. “And when it gets into legal matters, when it gets into criminal affairs, like the type we’ve been talking about in terms of the Penn State scandal, I think this is right in his wheelhouse.”

Borick contrasted that with Corbett’s level of comfort talking about policy debates.

He predicts any boost in approval ratings after the media blitz could be short-lived as the end of legislative session gets under way.

Some of the governor’s top legislative priorities–school vouchers and an impact fee on Marcellus Shale natural gas drillers–have yet to be passed, and both are controversial.