Could Lynn Swann really be elected Governor of PA?

[WI_DEM]

a new poll has the former NFL player leading Gov. Rendell 45-43. Is Rendell vulnerable?

www.rasmussenreports.com

[goclark]

1. Oh no --- please no!

I am African American but the last thing we need is a sell out to the Bush Crooks.

[blm]

2. Not after more people see Swann aligned with BushInc. Right now they

respond to his name, but don't know how aligned he is with Bush who is VERY unpopular in Pennsylvania.

[oasis]

42. All Rendell has to do is show Lynn grinning in the background of nearly

all of the speeches Chimpy made in his 2004 campaign tour.

[MadHound]

3. Let's see,

Reagan, an actor, was elected govenor, as was Schwarzendoodle. Jack Kemp, a former football player was elected to the Senate, as was Gerald Ford, another football player(albeit his football glory days were in college). So yeah, I'd say anything is possible now.

[MuseRider]

4. Is he running

against Bill Scranton?

[napi21]

17. He'd be running against Rendell, wouldn't he?

I haven't heard Ed was retiring.

[MuseRider]

18. Last I heard

Bill Scranton was also running for the Republican nomination but I could be wrong.

[napi21]

21. Oh, sorry, I wasn't thinking about the Primary.

I forgot he hass to get through that first, huh? :banghead:

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. He is running against Scranton for the GOP nomination,

and if successful he will try to beat Rendell.

[MuseRider]

22. Thanks.

I kinda pay a little attention since Bill Scranton's brother is a good friend of mine. Otherwise I would not really care about it. I wonder how that is looking. It will be interesting for me to follow.

[Crankie Avalon]

5. From what you're writing, I guess so...

...shouldn't every Governor's qualification be that he caught a touchdown in the Super Bowl? :silly:

[AX10]

6. This just may be name recognition.

Also, Rasmussen is known for it's right wing bias along with Gallup.
I find it hard to believe that the GOP is still winning on every level, yet they are very much so unpopular.

[WI_DEM]

7. Yes but Rasmussen also has polls showing Dems leading Rep

Senators in Ohio, PA, and Missouri. AS far as name recognition--doesn't Governor Rendell have any name recognition?

[rinsd]

37. I doubt its name recognition vs. Rendell. (nt)

[0rganism]

8. Could Arnold Schwarzenegger really be elected governor of CA?

Lynn Swann has name recognition and a fan base.

He's a black candidate, which erodes support from a voting bloc the Democrats rely on.

Yep. Watch out for this guy. If he can talk the talk, then he's going to be very difficult to defeat.

[rocktivity]

11. Another thing Lynn and Arnold have in common

is no previous political experience. That can be a campaign issue in itself--thanks to Arnold!

:headbang:
rocknation

[0rganism]

16. That's a two-edged sword, right there

Don't underestimate these guys. I'm telling you right now, just having political experience doesn't count for shit in a campaign, and can even be played as a negative by an "outsider" opponent.

For a helluva lot of voters, "Experienced Politician" = "Money-grubbing Social Parasite".

Another thing Lynn and Ahnold have in common is the GOP campaign funding and advertising machine. It may be corrupt as all get-out, but it's still a force to be reckoned with.

[Innocent Smith]

9. hmmm

Could a World Wrestling Federation wrestler become a Governor?

[rocktivity]

10. Just tarnish him with the "Bush Brush"

That's how New Jersey's Jon Corzine took out his GOP opponent. Force him to back away from Bush and Santorum, and see how much support he gets from either the voters OR the GOP!

:headbang:
rocknation

[wisteria]

12. I will be doing all I can to make sure he isn't. No more big

name, no credentials Republicans. They think they can get him elected as a novelty and as a minority draw and the minority groups in Philly will go right along. I think the people of PA are smarter than the republicans give them credit for.

This is also a right wing polling group.

[cantstandbush]

13. OMG, I hope not! n/t

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

14. Swann is about as black as OJ

Once the inner city voters see him locking arms with the likes of Dumbya, it's all over.

[WI_DEM]

23. I'm not so sure

Even if he gets a fraction of the traditionally Democratic black vote it could be fatal to Rendell.

[lies and propaganda]

15. black repugs confuse me

along with log cabin repugs. Why want to be part of a party that onlyuses you for exploitation?

[rocktivity]

19. "WHY ARE YOU SUPPORTING A PARTY

THAT REFUSES TO RECOGINZE YOUR OWN HUMANITY???"

That's what Air America's Sam Seder screamed at a Log Cabin Repug who'd called in. Once Sam was through with him, he gulped something about having to reconsider his position, LOL!

:headbang:
rocknation

[Coexist]

39. Maybe a better question is "Why doesn't your party wake up"

why is a party you continually support never putting forth a qualified African-American candidate. Al Sharpton was the only candidate the fired me up during the debates - he was great - he pulled no punches- he didn't sound too "polished" and fearful of losing the "swing vote". He was considered a joke as a candidate by most Democratic strategists. I was just reminded of this while re-watching Indecision 2004. The CBC amazes me and makes me grateful to be a Democrat several times a month.

I am a white, suburban mom.

The right has Blackwell and Swann this election cycle. I think there must be a couple of skilled, African-American politicians in those states. Are they on the ticket - at the top or anywhere??? Why not? Are they on the short list for the Democrats team if he/she wins?? Let's answer these questions, too.

Flame me if you want - it it a valid question.

[BushOut06]

24. They're misguided

They probably fell for the "stronger defense, family values, economic strength, tax cuts" mantra. Hell, it does sound awful nice, doesn't it? How could anyone oppose such a platform?

[oasis]

43. $$$ Looking out for number one. It's the American way. $$$$

[miss_american_pie]

25. Keep in mind

Outside of Pittsburgh and Philly, PA has a lot of red counties.

If they could steal elections in Florida and Ohio...

[Freddie Stubbs]

26. Gore won the state in 2000, Kerry won in 2004 and Rendell won in 2002

They haven't been stealing much in the red PA counties yet.

[miss_american_pie]

32. And there may not be

I wouldn't presume to know how those evil neo-con minds work. ;)

I was just thinking how easy it would be, now that we don't have those familiar levers to pull anymore, how many of those seniors in Allegheny county are going to be intimidated by the process. Seems like an easy target for disenfranchisement.

[JVS]

27. The Democrats need to nominate Franco Harris!

[Avalux]

28. Steeler fans will vote for him.

Growing up in PA in the 70's, I know first hand the mentality - Swann was a hero and loyalty runs deep with Steeler fans. People will vote for him because of his football career, not his political agenda. It's unfortunate but true.

[JVS]

30. It's not much worse than the vote by name recognition (casey jr.)...

or the vote for whomever has the same ethnicity as you (in my town it was Italian, Santorum probably did pretty well to since he claimed to be from my town and is italian, even though it was just his wife who came from the town, Rick was actually from a well heeled suburb to the southwest) method of voting that seems so common back in PA when I lived there.

[Doctor_J]

29. His only plank so far seems to be

"Dems have taken blacks for granted". Unlike what the Repukes did in NOLA, I guess.

[theHandpuppet]

35. Swann runs on an anti-choice platform.

He's been rubbing elbows with neocons for years now. Just do a Google search.

[KyuzoGator]

41. His only plank is, "I'm a Hall of Fame former Steeler"

And Arnold Schwarzenegger could never be elected governor of California, either.

[Doctor_J]

49. However, Grey Davis was unpopular, whereas

rendell is well-liked by the people of PA. It would be very nice to nip the politial career of this self-hating ballerina in the bud, and convincingly.

[Doctor_J]

31. Don't forget he will get free advertizing on every NCAA footbal game

next fall. Just like Smirk got it last fall on every NCAA and NFL game. All the announcers will be campaigning for him every week.

[Brewman_Jax]

33. Sure he could

remember, Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarznegger (actors), Jesse Ventura (pro 'rassler), and G.W. Bush (son of former president) were elected governors without regard to actual competence or qualifications.

Never say never. :crazy:

[aaronnyc]

34. Possibly... but I wouldn't read too much into this poll

Right now, all Pennsylvania voters know about Lynn Swann is that he is a somewhat personable, former pro-bowl wide receiver who helped lead their Pittsburgh Steelers to 4 Super Bowl titles. Additionally, he is able to take a sizable chunk of the black vote away from Rendell.

However, once voters become a little more familiar with Swann - the candidate - they will cease to see him simply as a football hero, and begin to see as just another politician. While lack of experience could be beneficial for Swann if he runs a near flawless campaign, it is more likely that he will make a few gaffes, or prove himself not to have the personality or political expertise needed to run a successful campaign; any mistake which Swann makes is likely to be magnified, as it will serve to reinforce the idea that he is simply a jock with no political experience. Furthermore, as soon as black voters see Swann cozying up with white GOP leaders - they will cease to see him as one of their own, and will instead view him as another black celebrity who turned their back on the community as soon as they got rich.

Celebrity candidates are usually successful when the incumbent is very unpopular, and voters are fed up with "politics as usual" and seeking an outsider candidate This is not the case in Pennsylvania, where Ed Rendell is mildly popular. So, unless Swann proves himself to be a natural politic an, I think that Rendell should be able to hold on to the governorship.

[Blue_Tires]

36. two words: Tom Osbourne

[Freddie Stubbs]

38. Swann is no Tom Osborne

Fortunatley JoePa is getting up in the years and seems to be happy with his current job.

[ohio_liberal]

40. I met Lynn Swann in an elevator in Wheeling WV years ago

He's an extraordinarily charming man. Not great intellect mind you, but loads of warmth and charmth. This is JMO (and not based on that one chance meeting), but I think unless someone makes him look like a clueless fool in a very public way he has a real chance of winning.

And as a completely meaningless afterthought, he ain't no 6ft. tall. ;)

[oasis]

45. Ex- NFLer Russ Francis ran against popular Democrat Patsy Mink

for her congressional seat back in the mid-90's.

He was so clueless that Patsy clobbered him in the debates.

edit to add: state of Hawaii.

[ohio_liberal]

47. Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking of

Wiping the floor with him in a debate. :hi:

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

44. PA: Home of the pro-choice Republican Governors...Swann is anti-choice.

Our most recent Republican Governors, Tom Ridge and Dick Thornburgh, were pro-choice Republicans. Lynn Swann has come out against choice, although it hasn't been widely publicized.

I hope the Democrats make it a point to emphasize to the suburban, pro-choice women in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia that Lynn Swann is against women's rights and stumped for the unpopular Prez in 04.

[bleedingheart]

46. It is possible.

Scaife has refused to give Rendell any good press,...even when he justly deserved it.
He runs anti-democratic tirades constantly in that rag of a paper...he will use it to pump up Swann.

Swann will be a GOP puppet and the only way for us to make sure we send him back home is to point out that the GOP controlled PA state House and Senate are GOP controlled and they are the brainiacs that gave us the pay raise debacle.

It is going to be a big fight...

What is going against Swann...there are a lot of racists in the state (yes the North has its own share of racists jerks)...and they may never vote for Swann.

[gauguin57]

48. Hell, my state elected Sen. Sanctimonium ... of COURSE Swann could win!

That is, my state elected Santorum TWICE ... so, surely, the populace would be stupid enough to elect Lynn Swann.

Hopefully, Rendell's machine will plow Mr. Football Hero right under, though.