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SLATINGTON, Pa. - Even a cinder-block fire hall, a sparse crowd, and bad lighting can't diminish Lynn Swann's star power. When he enters the Vigilant Fire Company, looking football-fit at 54 and wearing a suit and tie, the few dozen audience members pop out of their fold-up chairs to cheer him. Swann flashes a megawatt smile, grabs a stool at the front of the room, and tells them why he left a comfortable life as a celebrity broadcaster to run for governor of Pennsylvania. "If I didn't think we needed a change, I'd be content to stay at home, do...

President Bush received a rousing welcome today in Indiana where he spoke on behalf of Representative Mike Sodrel. Later, W traveled to South Carolina where he spoke to the men and women serving at Charleston Air Force Base. First Lady Laura Bush joined Representative Nancy Johnson at a campaign fundraiser in Farmington, Connecticut. Enjoy your Weekend on Sanity Island

A new Zogby Poll was released this week (8/30/06) showing once again that Lynn Swann is closing the gap with Ed Rendell. Rendell 48.4% Swann 43.5% This is a 3-point improvement over the last Zogby poll, released in mid-July, which showed Lynn 7-points down. To read more about the most recent poll, click here. As Zogby International notes on their research material, Zogby International was the most accurate polling firm of the 2004 Presidential election cycle. Not only did they most accurately predict the outcome of the Presidential election, they also accurately predicted the winner in 85% of the states...

PITTSBURGH—In his new book, A New Direction: My Plan for a Better Pennsylvania, Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann outlined his plan to increase job creation across Pennsylvania and stop Ed Rendell’s Harrisburg from hindering economic growth. The current administration’s burdensome business taxes cost Pennsylvania over 33,000 new jobs in 2004 alone. And in the Northeastern part of the state, manufacturing jobs dropped approximately 40 percent in Lackawanna County since 2000, 29 percent in the city of Scranton, and 15 percent in Luzerne County, according to newly released 2005 census data. The Swann/Matthews plan for job creation includes: · Returning the...

PITTSBURGH - Governor Ed Rendell recently released a new campaign advertisement highlighting his Administration's "tax cuts" and economic "cost cutting." Unfortunately, Rendell’s ad fails to tell Pennsylvanians the real story behind his failed economic record over the past four years: Rendell Rhetoric: "After facing a huge deficit his cost cutting and tough budgeting have produced a fourth balanced budget in a row."Reality: The Pennsylvania Constitution mandates that the budget is balanced. Rendell is bragging about following state law. Rendell hasn’t saved the Commonwealth money through "tough budgeting." In fact, the opposite is true. State spending has increased a staggering...

WASHINGTON -- Democrat Bob Casey maintained a slight lead over Republican Sen. Rick Santorum in Pennsylvania, but more voters say they have a poor opinion of the challenger, according to an independent poll released Thursday. In a three-way contest, the new Keystone Poll found Casey leading Santorum 44 percent to 39 percent among registered voters. Green Party candidate Carl Romanelli had 4 percent. Thirteen percent were undecided in the poll, which was conducted by Franklin & Marshall College between Aug. 16-21. In May, before Romanelli entered the race, the same pollster had Casey with a six-point lead over Santorum, the...

Gerry Robinson slowly made his way between the small, round tables set up in an exhibition hall here, as he and a couple hundred supporters of NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann awaited the arrival of President Bush. Bush spent the afternoon in southeastern Pennsylvania, where he also visited a Harley-Davidson plant, in an effort to shine a light on his handling of the economy and boost Swann's candidacy for governor. Both have been struggling lately. Polls have found that high gasoline prices and flat wages have left most Americans anxious about the economy. Meanwhile, Swann, a Republican, is facing...

I've been incessantly busy, and for that, I apologize - time has not been as readily available to me over the past few months, but I'll do my best to stick my head in here a bit more often as we move forward. This listing came across my desk this weekend -- it is a detailed list of black Republican candidates for state and national offices this year. They are definitely worth taking a look at, and, provided they meet with your personal approval (after seriously considering their credentials and viewpoints, of course), are worthy of your support. Thanks for...

Pa. races could set table for 2008 By Salena Zito TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, July 9, 2006 Welcome to Pennsylvania, known as "The Cradle of America" because the Founders drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. Fast-forward 230 years and it is about to become another national cradle - a political one -- for the 2006 midterm elections.

Swann asks Rendell to switch jobs By Michael Miller LEADER TIMES Friday, July 7, 2006 Lynn Swann wants to trade jobs with Gov. Ed Rendell. Swann, who worked for ABC sports for 28 years, told a crowd of supporters in Kittanning yesterday that he's looking to become the next governor, and that the governor can become a full-time broadcaster. Rendell has a side gig as a commentator for a cable network covering the Philadelphia Eagles. "Come November, vote for me for governor, and make him the broadcaster full-time," Swann said. The Republican candidate for governor spoke to a small crowd...

Bush may help Swann raise funds By David M. Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Tuesday, June 20, 2006 Lynn Swann is down in the polls, but his bid to unseat Gov. Ed Rendell is getting a boost from national GOP groups and a prospective presidential visit.

In fundraising, Rendell piles it on as Swann plays catch-up By David M. Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Friday, June 16, 2006 Lynn Swann was fleet on the gridiron, but the former Steelers star is eating Gov. Ed Rendell's dust in the dash to raise campaign cash.

Swans may look peaceful and elegant, but in some northeast Indiana lakes, they've got a bad attitude. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says there have been several confrontations between swans and people since Memorial Day. In one attack, a 13-year-old girl was swimming in the Lake James area when a mute swan pulled her under the water for several seconds until her father diverted the bird's attention. The mute swans can weigh about 30 pounds and have a wingspan of up to eight feet. D-N-R spokesman Rodney Clear says he's not sure what's prompting the attacks, though nesting season...

Same old Pa GOP: Issue the tomahawks Tuesday, June 6, 2006 What is it that the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania and powerful state legislative GOPers don't understand about being Republicans or conservatives? Just about everything.

Ridge urges GOP to unite behind Swann By Mike Wereschagin TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, May 31, 2006 Former Gov. Tom Ridge urged Republicans to put aside their misgivings about Lynn Swann and unite behind him in his bid to unseat Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell.

A sliver of hope for the Swann campaign? By Salena Zito TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, May 28, 2006 The opposing team is befuddled. The media are bored. The electorate is disengaged. And the campaign team? Bush (with a small "b") league.

Swann alleges Rendell camp thwarts would-be donors By The Associated Press Friday, May 26, 2006 PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Republican gubernatorial hopeful Lynn Swann said Friday that some of his supporters are not contributing to his campaign because people in the Rendell administration or the governor's campaign have indicated it could jeopardize their state contracts or grants. "His party machinery is out there putting the squeeze on people, saying 'don't contribute to Swann's campaign,"' Swann told The Associated Press in his first extended interview with a Pennsylvania news organization.

Ridge to join Swann's campaign By David M. Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann hopes to get a boost by adding former Gov. Tom Ridge, a heavy hitter in Pennsylvania politics, to his campaign team.

GOP Pins Hopes on Black Republicans By KRISTEN WYATT, Associated Press Writer 8 minutes ago Hope springs eternal when black Republicans seek higher office, yet often the first question that hits them is what are they doing in the GOP. This election year, a man named Steele in Maryland and a former football star named Swann in Pennsylvania are among a small but determined number of black candidates trying to win one for the Republicans despite the Democratic Party's near lock on the black vote. Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, a former seminarian with a law degree from Georgetown University,...

'Earthquake in Pennsylvania' By Brad Bumsted and Debra Erdley TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, May 17, 2006 Angry taxpayers on Tuesday tossed out the two Republican Senate leaders who helped engineer last year's legislative pay raise, an issue that apparently cost 13 House members their jobs, too.

Governor Fails to Lead, As Support Grows for Lynn Swann Thanks to your support Lynn Swann filed an impressive $1.3 million for this fundraising filing period - a sizable increase that matches incumbent Ed Rendell's filing for the period. Over the last 30 days, we also significantly expanded our donor base with more than 6,000 new donors.The broad grassroots support throughout the state and elected Republican party leaders here and around the nation believe that Lynn Swann can win in November. We fully expect to be out-raised by Ed Rendell, the former Democratic Party's Fundraiser in Chief. Our ultimate goal...

Santorum closes gap, Rendell widens lead By Brad Bumsted and David M. Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Thursday, May 4, 2006 HARRISBURG -- Aided by a $1-million-plus TV advertising blitz, Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell has opened a 14-point lead in his re-election campaign against Republican challenger Lynn Swann, according to the latest Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/WTAE-Channel 4 Keystone poll. The statewide poll of 578 registered voters released today also showed U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Penn Hills, has pulled within six points of his likely Democratic challenger, state Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., of Scranton.

Seemingly unrelated events, aren't By Eric Heyl TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, April 30, 2006 Can it be done? Can a seemingly random collection of items be seamlessly woven together into a column that informs and enlightens you? Let's give it a try. Let's somehow link Gov. Ed Rendell, the Pirates, the Penguins, former President Bill Clinton, political grandstander Jesse Jackson, the Democratic National Committee, the nation's largest cable TV provider and speculation on why the governor is intervening in what should be a private business transaction.

Third and Long Lynn Swann's substance-free campaign. by Salena Zito Pittsburgh LYNN SWANN, Republican candidate for governor of Pennsylvania, walked into the room and instantly owned it. He was among five hundred or so guests attending a March fundraiser for Senator Rick Santorum with George W. Bush as the headliner. But it was Swann who was the man of the moment, rubbing elbows with Pittsburgh's elite in the tony suburban neighborhood of Sewickley, where he happens to live.

Rendell says he signed pay raise to 'kiss a little butt' By Brad Bumsted STATE CAPITOL REPORTER Thursday, April 27, 2006 HARRISBURG -- Gov. Ed Rendell told a group of Bucks County business people he signed last year's pay raise to "kiss a little butt" with the Legislature and ensure continued enactment of his own agenda. That's a "jaw-dropping statement" that says it all about the governor and the "danger of another four years" with the Philadelphia Democrat in office, said Lenny Alcivar, spokesman for Republican Lynn Swann, Rendell's opponent.

Swann & Jubelirer Tuesday, April 25, 2006 Just when it looked as if Lynn Swann's gubernatorial campaign was getting on track, the candidate appears to have taken a steady, deliberate aim at his foot and pulled the trigger with conviction.

Swann's hour of crisis By Salena Zito TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, April 16, 2006 What's the biggest problem with Lynn Swann's campaign for governor? It is not his awkward grasp of the issues. Nor is it his anemic fundraising. It isn't that he's never sought public office before, nor is he handicapped because he's black. Lynn Swann's big trouble? He is handled by amateurs.

ALTOONA, Pa., April 11 — In what was already proving a surprisingly tight contest, the race for governor of Pennsylvania has grown more complicated with the entry of an independent candidate who helped spearhead a grass-roots insurgency last year against the state legislature. The development is the latest twist in a campaign where the Democratic incumbent, Edward G. Rendell, once considered a shoo-in for re-election, has been polling neck and neck with his Republican challenger, the former football star Lynn Swann, a political newcomer. The latest arrival in the race is Russ Diamond, a businessman who last July founded PACleanSweep,...

Gov. Rendell holds a lopsided lead over Republican challenger Lynn Swann among black voters, according to an independent poll released yesterday. The Democratic incumbent continues to hold a double-digit lead among 1,354 registered voters, who favored him over the Pro Football Hall-of-Famer 47 percent to 37 percent, the Quinnipiac University poll found. Among a smaller sample of 451 black voters, 74 percent supported Rendell, who is white. Swann, who is in line to become the first African American to be nominated for Pennsylvania governor by either major party, was preferred by 12 percent. Another 12 percent were undecided. The telephone...

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Gov. Ed Rendell led his Republican challenger, Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Lynn Swann, in a statewide poll released Wednesday and held a particularly lopsided lead among black voters.

Rendell's bulging war chest swamps Swann By David M. Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, April 5, 2006 Rendell's report showed the Democratic incumbent with about $15.5 million, compared with $1.5 million in Swann's war chest.

Lynn Swann Does Not Deserve To Be In the Hall of Fame by Chris Bowers, Mon Apr 03, 2006 at 02:30:42 PM EST Does Lynn Swann, Republican candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania and retired wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, deserve to be in the pro football Hall of Fame? When hearing this question for the first time, I imagine that most fans of professional football will probably say yes. The first thing that will probably come to their minds are the endlessly repeated replays of two or three spectacular catches he made during a Super Bowl game. However, a...

April 1, 2006 From The Morning Call Swann agrees to shell out sales tax State Revenue Department had been looking into his online football memorabilia business. By John L. Micek Call Harrisburg Bureau HARRISBURG | Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann said Friday his company will now begin collecting and remitting state sales tax on $200 autographed footballs and other memorabilia sold on its Web site. At an appearance in suburban Harrisburg, Swann also said the California-based Swann Inc. will cooperate in a routine state Department of Revenue inquiry into its business activities in the state. Monday, the Revenue Department sent...

Rendell's glad Swann doesn't get cable By Eric Heyl TRIBUNE-REVIEW Friday, March 31, 2006 Excerpts from Gov. Ed Rendell's diary: March 29, 2006 Dear Diary, Whew! Dodged a bullet today. My buddies over at Comcast, where I work part-time during the fall as a football commentator, announced they are capping raises this year for their top executives at $12 million. I got word of that and I started sweating like a, I don't know, like a sweating governor or something.

HARRISBURG -- Republican challenger Lynn Swann held a slight lead over incumbent Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell in a statewide poll released today, with a third of registered voters indicating they were open to voting for either man. Thirty-five percent of those surveyed in the IssuesPA/Pew Poll said they were likely to vote for Swann, the retired Pittsburgh Steelers star and former college football television analyst. Twenty-nine percent said they would probably support Rendell, and 34 percent were considered up for grabs. Rendell, a former Philadelphia mayor, is running strongest in that city and its suburbs. Swann's greatest support is in...

Black Republican Candidates for the United States Senate By Paul M. Weyrich Mar 17, 2006 Republican National Chairman Kenneth B. Mehlman has gone out of his way to tell the Black community that it should not be taken for granted by Democrats but should give Republicans a second look. He cites various Republican initiatives, such as school choice, the No Child Left Behind measure and President George W. Bush’s ownership society, as reasons for Black reconsideration. I am convinced that Mehlman is sincere in not only wanting to see Blacks vote for Republicans but to see Black Republican candidates elected...

It's a dead heat for Rendell, Swann By David M. Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Friday, March 17, 2006 Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell and Republican challenger Lynn Swann are running neck and neck, a new independent statewide poll shows. In a hypothetical election, Rendell and Swann each would get 44 percent of the vote, with 10 percent undecided and 2 percent for others, according to the Strategic Vision poll. "Dead even. You can't get much closer than that," said David E. Johnson, pollster for Atlanta-based Strategic Vision, a public relations and marketing firm.

Below are the poll results based on telephone interviews with 1200 likely voters in Pennsylvania, aged 18+, and conducted March 10-12, 2006. The margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.1. Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush's overall job performance? Approve 35% Disapprove 58% Undecided 7%2. Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush's handling of the economy? Approve 34% Disapprove 59% Undecided 7%3. Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq? Approve 39% Disapprove 50% Undecided 11%4. Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush's handling of the war on terrorism?...

March 09, 2006 Black Like GOPBy Deroy Murdock,Contributing Editor Will the Dems lose a reliable constituency this year? This year, Democrats may lose their iron grip on the black vote. About 90 percent of black Americans vote Democrat, rain or shine. But a growing sense that Democrats take them for granted — plus several attractive, high-level black Republican candidates who will fight for these votes — could make November 2006 and 2008 fascinating. For starters, President Bush's black support grew from 9 percent in 2000 to 11 percent in 2004. That is no landslide, but Bush's black vote improved 22...

Lynn Swann launched his campaign amid the artifacts of the Heinz History Center. Now, the man who would be the state's first African-American governor hopes to reshape the patterns of political history. On its cross-state announcement tour, the Swann campaign made its Philadelphia debut not in the city's Republican suburbs, the largest trove of GOP votes in the state, but at the Hope Mission Ministries, a community center in an inner city neighborhood that probably hadn't voted for a Republican in Mr. Swann's lifetime. Aides said the stop demonstrated their ability to challenge Democratic incumbent Ed Rendell for the votes...

Lynn Swann launched his campaign amid the artifacts of the Heinz History Center. Now, the man who would be the state's first African-American governor hopes to reshape the patterns of political history. On its cross-state announcement tour, the Swann campaign made its Philadelphia debut not in the city's Republican suburbs, the largest trove of GOP votes in the state, but at the Hope Mission Ministries, a community center in an inner city neighborhood that probably hadn't voted for a Republican in Mr. Swann's lifetime. Aides said the stop demonstrated their ability to challenge Democratic incumbent Ed Rendell for the votes...

Sh... Sh... Keep this a secret and don't dare tell the mainstream media, but Lynn Swann, Michael Steele, Kenneth Blackwell and Keith Butler are four charismatic, conservative, Republican Senatorial and Gubenatorial candidates who happen to be black and are attempting to change the nation's politics. They could possibly lead a bevy of black voters out of the Democratic stronghold and render the Dems totally powerless in national elections. Just thinking of this prospect must give Democrats the shivers, since they know so many blacks are socially conservative and unhappy with what the Democrats have had to offer black Americans. It...

They're all popular, conservative, Republican and black. And just thinking of their candidacies must give Democrats the shivers, cause them to get little if any sleep at night and make them angry that these blacks had the nerve to leave the plantation without permission. Of course, I'm talking about the candidacy of former Detroit City Councilman Keith Butler who is in the running for the U.S. Senate seat from the state of Michigan. Current Ohio Secretary of State and former Mayor of Cincinatti Kenneth Blackwell is running for the Gubenatorial seat in Ohio. Michael Steele is currently Mariyland's Lieutenant Governor...

Black vote could decide state's gubernatorial race By David M. Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, February 27, 2006 Although blacks make up only about 10 percent of Pennsylvania's population, they could become a critical bloc of voters in deciding the race for governor between incumbent Democrat Ed Rendell, who is white, and Republican challenger Lynn Swann, who hopes to become the state's first black governor.

With the field reduced to two players, the latest Rasmussen Reports election poll shows Democratic Governor Ed Rendell narrowly leading Republican Lynn Swann, the former Pittsburgh Steeler, 46% to 43%.

To: Ed Re: Casino license fiasco By Eric Heyl TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, February 19, 2006 Memos left unanswered: March 2, 2004 To: Gov. Ed Rendell From: John Estey (your chief of staff) Re: Alternative casino licensing fee idea I was pondering the slots casino issue last night and had an epiphany. Rather than having the state award casino licenses for a flat $50 million fee, as you have proposed, the licenses instead could be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

ast night, I had the opportunity to see the GOP candidate for governor in Pennsylvania in action, Lynn Swann. While his foes are trying to paint the former Pittsburgh Steeler as substandard for the office in which he is seeking, let me tell you this: Swann is refreshing and that is a good thing. In Pennsylvania - which ranks near the bottom in the United States for job creation - a refreshing face is just want the Keystone state needs. Ed Rendell, the current Democratic governor is oily and those living here know what I mean by that term, oily....

Leadership Problems Plague Steele in Md. by Matt Lewis Posted Feb 18, 2006 It seems the wheels are coming off of Lt. Governor Michael Steele's U.S. Senate campaign. In the past couple of weeks, he has lost his campaign manager and his communications director. Steele, the African-American Republican Lt. Governor of Maryland, represents one of the few chances Republicans have of picking up a formerly Democrat Senate seat. Additionally, several pundits have speculated that his election, along with Lynn Swann in Pennsylvania and Ken Blackwell in Ohio, would be a major step forward in terms of attracting blacks to the...

P-G charges XL prices for Super Bowl editions By Eric Heyl TRIBUNE-REVIEW A tip for those seeking commemorative Super Bowl editions of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Buy them through eBay rather than the newspaper. It's cheaper. Much cheaper. The financially struggling P-G has significantly boosted the price of back issues of the newspaper following the Steelers' Feb. 5 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. Back issues of some

Where is the outrage that was manufactured to run Rush Limbaugh off the air? Is it absent because Gumbel is allegedly black? So just picture for a moment, if you will, that you're watching SportsCenter tonight and Dan Patrick says, "The lack of whites in the NBA makes it look like a welfare office." Think that would get buried like Gumbel's comments? For what it's worth, maybe Gumbel should do some research on the emerging face of the GOP.