AP: Swann Holds Slight Lead in Pa. Gov. Race (WTF???)

[Bleacher Creature]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060330/ap_on_el_gu/pennsylvania_governor_poll

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pro Football Hall of Famer Lynn Swann held a slight lead over Gov. Ed Rendell in a statewide poll released Thursday, but more than a third of registered voters indicated they hadn't settled on either candidate.

Thirty-five percent of those surveyed in the IssuesPA/Pew Poll said they were likely to vote for Swann, a retired Pittsburgh Steelers star and Republican campaigning to become the state's first black governor.

Twenty-nine percent said they would probably support Rendell, a Democrat and former Philadelphia mayor who is running for a second four-year term

<SNIP>

Tell me Pennsylvanians aren't this dumb. Please?

[TimeChaser]

1. I'm not, at least

But if the people I graduated with are any indication :scared:

[Born Free]

41. GOP playing the race card

"Will Pa vote for a black man?" suggests the people will say they will vote for him but won't because he's black - nothing about being qualified. Of course with the new electronic voting machines the vote counters will decide who is the best candidate

[TheVirginian]

50. Its sad that people think this is the case.

This is much more about celebrity than it is about race. I haven't heard one peep, from either side, about race.

[bullimiami]

2. golly, hes a football star...

and hes black.

hes got to make a good governor.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. Superbowl bling= Competent leadership.

If he can drive really fast in a circle statues will be erected.

[MADem]

38. Beware the Ides of Ahhhhhhh-nuld!!! n/t

[hexola]

48. Oh Please - Swanns heyday was a LONG time ago...Lynn who?

Nowhere near the stature of Arnold - Not even remotely close.

You have to be 40 to even remember his playing days...

Arnold is the star of some of the biggest, most viewed movies in history...he's on TV everyday...somewhere.

[Wise Doubter]

52. "You have to be 40 to even remember his playing days..."

"You have to be 40 to even remember his playing days..."

And what days they were.

He taught Jordan how to fly.

He may have been the best receiver of the late 70s.


Steelers’ Records held by Swann at the time of his retirement after the 1982 season

·(1st) Most Receptions, Career – 336
·(1st) Most Yards Receiving – 5462
·(1st) Most Touchdown Receptions, Career – 51
·(1st) Most Yards Punt Returns, Season – 577 (1974)
·(2nd) Most Touchdowns, Career – 53
·(2nd) Most Punt Returns, Season – 41
·(Tied for 2nd) Most Touchdowns Receptions, Season – 11 (1975,1978)
·(3rd) Most Total Points, Career – 318
·(4th) Best Average Punt Returns, Career – 12.3
·(4th) Best Average Punt Returns, Season – 14.1 (1974)
·(5th) Most Receptions, Season – 61 (1978)
·(5th) Most Yards Receiving, Game – 192 (vs. Cincinnati, Dec. 2, 1979)
·(5th) Most Yards Punt Returns, Career – 740
·(6th) Most Punt Returns, Career – 60

This says nothing of his political carrer, of course.

OK, you can flame me now.

[MADem]

58. All politics, though, is LOCAL

To quote my late pal "Mistah Speeeeeakah" Tip O'Neill.

Not everyone goes to action movies, certainly not that little old lady who never fails to vote. People may know who Ahhhhnuld is, but I know little old ladies who have NEVER seen a film with him in it.

Let me tell you, if Carl Friken Yastrzemski ran for damn near anything in MA, he'd likely be elected in a landslide, so long as he didn't say anything dumb. People like their local sports heroes--in fact, I know little old ladies who WOULD vote for YAZ!

It IS an issue, and it shouldn't be ignored. I think Ed Rendell can pull it off, but if his staff is smart, they should take absolutely nothing for granted and work like they are twenty points behind from now until the damn polls close.

[hexola]

34. Was in broadcasting for a long time also..

Wasnt he CBS football color man...?

[Wise Doubter]

51. "Wasnt he CBS football color man...?"

Why yes, he was.....:rofl:

[RamboLiberal]

61. Actually he was with ABC

And unfortunately he has a real chance of being elected. Hopefully the fact that he is an empty suit when it comes to running a state will be exposed.

I'm not a huge fan of Ed Rendell, but Rendell should be able to clean Lynn's clock at a debate.

Of course that didn't help Kerry much even when Bush looked like the village idiot at those 3 debates.

Lynn may carry Pittsburgh area but I doubt he'll carry Eagles territory.

[OKthatsIT]

37. should be able ti find some dirt on him

[radfringe]

40. more like just because he's a football star

I moved to PA from MA about 9 years ago... talk about a bit of culture shock -- FOOTBALL RULES here

there is more on the sports news segment of local TV stations about football (especially at high school level) than any other sport...

the only bright spot about the poll, is that 1/3 are still undecided

two things are working against Rendell at the moment and they are related

Slot machines are now legal, and a portion of the proceeds will go to cities/towns (that opted into the program) and it's suppose to lower property/school taxes. There are many (mostly religious groups) who are opposed to gambling and are rallying their flock.

meanwhile, thanks to the bush* tax cuts, less money is going to states, which means less money going to cities/towns -- this translates into higher property/school taxes. Many cities/towns have gone the reassessment route on properties as opposed to raising the rate. Considering reassessment hasn't been done in 50 years or so in many of the communities - this is going to hurt alot of people big time.

Need to get Lynn on record whether he is for or against the slot machine/tax deal - and if he's against it what his proposal is to get those taxes under control

[Coastie for Truth]

3. In Pittsburgh

they elected former Pirate Pitcher Bob Friend treasurer - and he was to the right of Attila the Hun.

they elected and re-elected Pete Flaherty mayor - and he presided over the beginning of Pittsburgh death spiral.

they elected and re-elected Tom Murphy mayor - and he took the city into municipal bankruptcy.

[Dr.Phool]

7. Well maybe Terry Bradshaw will be your next Mayor.

Always rumored to be dumber than a box of bushes.

[mitchum]

21. I recently saw photographic evidence of just how dumb Bradshaw is...

Esquire had various celebrities take photographs of things that they loved. I knew that he was a bit of a fundy, so I really wasn't that surprised when he took a photograph of his bible. But it was the New International Version. The one written on a fifth grade level.
Apparently Bradshaw couldn't spell "thou" if you spotted him the "t" , "h", and the "u"

[madmark]

55. bradshaw is taking his dumb act all the way to the bank

[bluestateguy]

4. No, he doesn't

Bush will drag down every Republican in the northeast. Pay no attention to corporate bought and paid for polls of phantom people.

[tritsofme]

14. All politics is local.

Bush will drag Santorum down with him, but I don't think people will associate Swann with Bush.

[Ignacio Upton]

5. Never underestimate the power of stupid people

The same voters who brought you Ahhnold and Ventura will bring you Swann. I just hope that Santorum doesn't grab onto his coattails (if he ends up having any.)

[brentspeak]

6. Style over substance, celebrity over seriousness

Lynn Swan really doesn't have anything going for him other than he's a legendary Pittsburgh Steeler. The Repubs are utterly tickled pink because they landed a famous black man to run for Pa. governor. That he so far has offered nothing of substance in his political rhetoric shows that he'll likely take orders from the GOP, and that's even more of a plus, as far as the Republicans are concerned; they don't like independent-types in their party.

[KamaAina]

8. Swannie must not have opened his mouth for a couple of weeks

every time he does, for instance on Snuffleupagus a few weeks ago, he proves anew what a :dunce: he is, and his numbers tank faster than Bush**'s.

[orwell]

10. FWIW...

...I knew Lynn Swann in High School in the Bay Area. I know nothing about him since then other than briefly following his career as a football player and sports commentator. I can say that he was a great guy in High School, humble, approachable, smart and kind, even though he was the greatest athlete I or anyone else I know had ever seen. He was a tremendous pitcher, quarterback, and basketball player. He won the state long jump in California, no small feat in such a large state. He also maintained a very high GPA at a tough Catholic Prep School.

I ran against him in track and field. He was always generous self-effacing and kind, even though I was a competitor from another school. He is an outstanding person...or at least he was back then. If this is the same Lynn Swann that I knew, Pennsylvania could do a lot worse, say a faded body builder with a giant ego and ambition to match.

[theHandpuppet]

11. Too bad that nice kid you knew became such a RW GOP toadie

Against raising the minimum wage
Totally anti-choice
Homophobe
Supports tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans

I could go on, but you get the idea. Not the kind of person I'd want running my state. But hey, he can be the "nice" version of a Rick Santorum and y'all can feel better when he turns your state into a bankrupt theocracy.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

13. Well, he's come a long way since high school....

...too bad it hasn't all been in positive directions.

Somebody in Pennsylvania needs to start asking him a lot of questions about where he stands on the issues.

[PaDem]

17. I don't doubt that at all.........

everything I've ever heard about Swann personally is positive. He's a bit of a puppet candidate in that he has not and will not talk about issues and tends to gravitate towards rigid, black and white positions on things. It'll be a close election here for sure, Rendell is not a popular Governor.

[theHandpuppet]

43. You know what irks the crap outta me?

That so many folks can say that Swann is such a nice guy PERSONALLY when he's such a homophobe (not to mention misogynist).

What if Swann were an avowed racist? Would we just overlook that and say but personally, he's such a nice guy? As a gay person in America, I find this tendency to dismiss this man's bigotry incredibly hurtful and insulting. If Swann had the same nasty opinion of animals as he does gay Americans people would be absolutely appalled. But hey, we're just queers so anything to do with us or our rights as human beings is just a "side issue" when the candidate is so personable, well-spoken and charismatic, huh.

Well -- fuck that. The man is an intolerant, RW BIGOT.

[mitchum]

23. Apparently he's been hit in the head a lot since then

[adriennui]

12. i'm glad i don't live in PA

if swann wins, it doesn't say much about your state.

rendell is a good governor.

[SoCalDem]

15. He's the Diebold choice

That's how it works folks..they purposely choose someone with name recognition to explain away the "oddity" of the polls, which are carefully tweaked to match up with the pre-programmed outcome of the elections..

[annabanana]

45. Ding Ding Ding!!!

Look for this to happen Nationwide, in race after race...
Suspect polls will announce "close" contests, and the machines will confirm those polls.

regardless of the will of the people

[skipos]

16. Rasmussen has Rendell 44%, Swann 41%

I hope are PA DUers are going to be working hard.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/March%202006/Pennsylvania%20Governor%20March.htm

[MrSlayer]

18. I'm not buying.

Randell was up by 13 points last month. Swan knows exactly nothing about the issues, in debates he's going to make Chimpy's performance in 2004 look like a masterful job.

[hexola]

19. The problem is RENDELL SUCKS!!!

What to do?

[blue neen]

22. What to do?

Lynn Swann is a Bush-loving neo-con. Figure it out from there.

[snowbear]

28. WHY does he suck?

He polls about average- Much better than the A-hole in my state!! http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/50StateGovernor060321Approval.htm

Why do you think Governor Rendell sucks?

I seriously think the guy on here who said PA is experiencing the "Ahhnold/Ventura" syndrome nailed it perfectly!!

[bleedingheart]

49. no the problem is a republican controlled legislature that has

screwed Rendell from the beginning and a republican controlled media outlet on the western side of the state that refuses to publish anything good about Rendell...(scaife's papers)

[AX10]

20. If Swann wins, it will not....

show Pennsylvania in a positive light.

[femmocrat]

24. There have been two minor "scandals" about Swann.

First, it was discovered that he never (well, rarely) even votes! He was apparently out of town... but couldn't file an absentee ballot? Rendell has not missed an election in decades.

Just this week, there was a more serious report (printed maybe one day) that he was collecting sales tax on football memorabilia without the proper tax permits.

Apparently the PA voters are not paying attention and are still basking in the glow of winning the Superbowl. Rendell is not popular, but is certainly better qualified than Swann who has no experience in public office, let alone running a huge state government!

Even more hideous, unless PA voters split the ticket, Swann's popularity could bode well for Santorum, ... pray for us, please!!!

[theHandpuppet]

44. Too bad homophobia and misogyny aren't considered scandalous

But what the hey, being a damn RW, gay-hating bigot in this country is considered a plus when running for office. Maybe he and Santorum can hook up and finally set up that theocratic model in Pennsylvania.

[mitchum]

25. Well, this country is filled with a lot of stupid yahoos

[hexola]

26. Dont worry - the Philly construction mafia will see to it that Fast Eddie

gets back in...

No doubt...

[WinkyDink]

30. Slur away. Better than the BFEE installing Swannie.

[hexola]

31. What's the slur...? (nt)

[WinkyDink]

57. Oh, I don't know...MAFIA supporting "Fast Eddie", maybe?

[snowbear]

27. Several people said Rendell sucked, but NONE said why...

For those who said he sucked, please explain your reasoning.

[hexola]

33. Mid-staters dont like him...

Cuz he seems beholden to the Philly concrete people...whos tentacles reach far into the mid-state.

GAMBLING - very unpopular in the mid-state...and a big issue in smaller mid-state communities.

ACT 72 - Gambling funded schools...

Rendell siphoned $530 million in federal highway funds to keep buses and trains running in Philadelphia - while smaller comunities get thier public transportaion shut down...

Immigration...a bajillion more Mexicans in the mid-state since Mr Rendell came to town...

He signed into law the infamous 16 percent to 54 percent pay raises for legislators, judges and other state politicians, including the governor...people are FREAKING about this...

http://www.pacleansweep.com/

[snowbear]

35. Sounds to me like YOU don't like him hexola..

Sure doesn't sound that way from many others here.

Still, the other guy was right -- looks like a lot of PA has a case "Ahhnold" fever.

[hexola]

47. Its making more news nationally that locally...

This isnt really on the radar like you might expect. Cerainly nothing like "fever"

Maybe the Pittsburgh press is on it...but I hardly hear about in the news.

Overall - I dont think folks are too displeased with Redell...

The mid-state is looking hard at out local officials...moreso than gov...

They just rasied the hunting licese fees - Swann could make a lot of white buddies if he suggests some reform to game commission...but there are more important issues that will probably overshadow stuff like that...

[Born Free]

42. Midstate is very right wing

Midstate area is one of the most right wing areas in the country, they are in the national top 2 or 3 for nazis and skinheads I think the Aryian nation moved in the midstate as well. Right wingers dominate the airways, and some even can write to the news paper, they drive around in their suvs at night and knock down campaign signs for anyone not of their liking. As they say, the men are men and the sheep are scared ( common jokes about midstate county people have sex with sheep when their sisters are busy having sex with their dads). This year it's going to be interesting to see the skinheads and nazis promote a black candidate.... it will be funny to hear them use the GOP race card

[hexola]

46. More hippies in the mid-state than anywhere else too...

Cuts both ways -

The Aryans/Skinheads come up from West Virgina and Md...Im sure we have some too - but a lot of the propoganda and flyers trace back to WVA...They tend to get a lot of press - but dont seem to have the balls to come out in the open.

I hang a bit in indie music scene - really no skinhead scene at all. Perhaps stupid racist rednecks - but they are being replaced by mexicans...

And - no - I dont like Fast Eddie - I just dont...Mostly because of some local environmental/anti-coporate activities that I am involved in...but he just seems like a sleazy gangster.

I dont see myself supporting Swann - I dont mind voting for the occaional Republican for local politics - but I wouldnt dabble in that for governor...too much power - too much federal influence.

And you gotta love Bob Durgin on WHP - he calls himself a conservative - but if you have listedned long enough...you'd know - He voted for Clinton! Bob doesnt ever really touch national politics - mostly local stuff - he's been great leading the Clean-Sweep charge! He is a closet animal-rights activist - has members of PETA on regularly - sure he reviles them abit (actually he's very nice to them)...but he gives them a voice.

[snowbear]

60. Who uses the term "hippies" these days?

Dayum Hex, that word went out with Pac-man games, VW vans with big daisy stickers on 'em, and bell-bottoms!

BTW, I'm glad you don't see yourself voting for the Steelers superstar just because of who he is. Good for you!!!

You're not so bad afterall! :hug: ~~ ~~ :hug:

[WinkyDink]

29. I live in PA., and I say anybody who thinks: 1. Big Ed is UNpopular; and

2. Swannie has a snowball's chance,

IS NUTS.
IMHO, of course.

[Justitia]

32. I'm w/you - my whole family is still there & Rendell owns the place.

Swann is a joke up there. 'Course all my relatives are in the Philly area, but I still think this is crazy talk about Swann having any shot against Rendell at all.

And yeah, for those who say "Rendell sucks" or he's a problem, I'd love to hear some elaboration because I have NEVER heard those sentiments from anyone I know in PA.

I'm calling BS on this "poll".

[Lugnut]

36. Same here

And I'll second it.

IMHO, of course. ;)

[JCMach1]

39. Problem with this poll-- there was obviously a none of the above

choice..

You can't win with 35%

When pressed, who are the fence-sitters going to vote for?

[Wise Doubter]

53. Swann's press secretary, Melissa Walters, called the poll ....

Swann's press secretary, Melissa Walters, called the poll "another example of the clear momentum behind Lynn Swann's campaign and the growing support for change and reform in Pennsylvania."


I think it has more to do with celebrity-ism

A 2006 Superbowl Steelers victory sure doesn`t hurt his attempt.

Men love football.

Same reason we have a bad acting macho-man as governor

[Number9Dream]

54. Why PA Dems are less than thrilled with Rendell...

First, come November I'll be voting for Gov. Rendell. Swann is just a Repuke puppet.

Rendell's number one campaign promise was property tax relief from our astronomical school taxes. Three-and-a-half years later, my property taxes are higher than ever. The idiots in Harrisburg (having learned nothing from the Homestead Exemption fiasco) made Act 72 optional. 95% of our school districts simply ignored our pleas for tax relief.
Rendell supports the Iraq quagmire.
Rendell endorsed Alito (undermining other Dems).
...Just explaining why many Dems are less than thrilled with Rendell.

[appleannie1]

56. I am from western PA

and cheered Swannie on in his heyday. But that does not mean he is qualified to govern our state. I have no problem with gambling in this state. Every time I go to either W. Virginia, New York or Deleware, the parking lots are full of cars with PA plates. Why not keep the money being spent in our state? Plus, Rendell has had to deal with a Repub owned Congress. Perhaps, if that were to change, he could do a better job. So I am hoping that Pennsylvanians will be smart enough to realize that being able to catch a football does not mean Swann is qualified to be a governor.

[warrens]

59. Jesse Ventura's gas station attendants

He got them to vote for the first and last time. I doubt Swann can do the same. Cut them out of the poll, and he's got very little support.

[The Straight Story]

62. why do people assume he would be a bad gov - can't ball players do other

things as well?

To me,part of the problem is we get politicians who spend their lives doing politics and removed from the daily lives of those their legislation affects (in one state, for example, they were busy banning smoking in public places except the statehouse where they still had a room members could smoke in as it was better than them having to walk all the way outside...).

Now I many not like swann (he is running as an R) but I certainly think he or any other famous/non-famous person can do a good job. Career politicians don't have other jobs to fall back on so they play the game and screw us for 'political' reasons - ie to keep their power and pay.