Ex-Steeler Swann Raising Money for Bid (Pa. Rep. Governor's race)

[Judi Lynn]

Ex-Steeler Swann Raising Money for Bid

Former Pittsburgh Steelers Star Lynn Raising Money for Potential Gubernatorial Bid in Pennsylvania

The Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. Feb 24, 2005 — Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Lynn Swann has formed a campaign committee to raise money for a potential run for governor in 2006.

Swann named his committee Team 88, the number he wore as a wide receiver for the Steelers from 1974 to 1982, when the team won four Super Bowls.
(snip)

Swann, who turns 53 next month, faces at least two prospective opponents in the GOP primary. The winner will take on incumbent Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell in November.

A Quinnipiac University poll of voters conducted earlier this month showed Rendell winning a hypothetical matchup against Swann, 50 to 34 percent.
(snip/)

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=528693

[oasis]

1. No wonder Swannie was mugging it up at Bush's campaign rallies. I hope

he's as good a campaigner as he is a sideline commentator.

Which is no damn good at all. :-)

[David Dunham]

2. Rendell, for better or worse, will even get the PA racist vote

[Kolesar]

4. We in Ohio have an African-American candidate for Governor,

Michael Coleman, mayor of Columbus. I fear the same thing.

[President Jesus]

10. where's the 'for better' part of that statement?

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[saltpoint]

5. Love Swann the receiver. Less enthusiastic about --

-- Swann the conservative GOP candidate.

Deflect the pass, Keystone Dems.

[President Jesus]

6. Lynn Swann's campaign contribution history

Interesting that the only Democrat he's ever donated to is Kerry, albeit for Senate: http://www.newsmeat.com/sports_political_donations/Lynn_Swann.php

I think Lynn will be a formidable opponent. He is very likable, and I've never heard a bad word about him.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

7. Pix of Swann sucking up to W should get Rendell even more votes. nt

[President Jesus]

9. I wouldn't be so sure...

...you could say the same exact thing about pictures of Rendell with Howard Dean. Just because PA went for Kerry, don't forget they have 2 gop senators, one of them being as right-wing as Tom DeLay.

Swann has been careful with his image, and is not known to be a partisan blowhard. He has the type of personality that non-partisans seem to gravitate towards.

But he still has to successfully execute a political campaign, and who knows if he'll 'fumble' the ball along the way. 20 months is a helluva long time.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

12. Non-partisans are a thing of the past, aren't they?

Ya, I used to be a non-partisan who paid minimal attention to political details and voted for the candidates and not the party too.

As a PA resident I am embarrassed by Ricky man-on-dog Santorum and he is our primary target in 06. However, Rendell has been doing a decent job for this state and Swann has a total lack of experience in politics...except for hugging W on the campaign trail. YUCK!

[underpants]

8. Swann-receiver Gannon-"top"

For those scoring at home

[maxrandb]

11. Hey! If Gropenator Can Do It!

Please don't dismiss this. Hell, they tried to get Mike Ditka to run in IL. It plays right into the Repub successful playbook!

1. Grab a big celebrity name with absolutely no experience except being able to read a cue card, or run a post route.

2. Obfuscate and control the message so that no one quite knows where they stand on issues.

3. Count on star power to mesmerize the masses!

4. Throw in a couple of focus group tested sound-bites like "I Vill Terminate zee Special Interest in Sacramento", or "I was always willing to go over the middle".

5. Demonize the opponent with special interest donated money.

Oh! And if the star happens to be a minority, even better.

Funny how republicans were the ones always complaining about Hollywood influencing politics and culture.

What's next? Jeff Gannon running as a compassionate conservative homosexual in New York??