Attorney General Tom Corbett will make the long-awaited and long-expected official announcement of his candidacy for governor next Monday in Pittsburgh.

Brian Nutt, the manager of the soon-to-be-official campaign, confirmed that the state's chief prosecutor will make "a major announcement on his potential candidacy" next week.

"It's a major announcement and no one will be arrested," said John Brabender, Mr. Corbett's media strategist.

Mr. Corbett will join U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach in the battle for the GOP nomination to succeed Gov. Ed Rendell, who is barred by the state Constitution from running for a third term.

Mr. Gerlach has acknowledged that Mr. Corbett starts as the front-runner in the race. Early polling has shown the prosecutor with a significant edge over his rival, although the same surveys suggest that neither Republican has broad statewide name recognition.