Quinny Poll/Pennsylvania Governor's Race: Swann continues to tank

Swann gains no ground on Rendell in gov race, Quinnipiac poll finds; hike sales tax to cut property tax, voters say

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Republican challenger Lynn Swann, the former Pittsburgh Steeler, has gained no ground on Gov. Ed Rendell in their race for Governor and trails the Democratic incumbent 55 - 31 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

This compares to a 55 - 33 percent Rendell lead in a May 12 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University poll.

In this latest survey, Gov. Rendell leads Swann 78 - 13 percent among Democrats and 60 - 22 percent among independent voters. Swann leads 61 - 27 percent among Republicans. Men back Rendell 50 - 38 percent, while women back him 59 - 26 percent.

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"The Lynn Swann campaign is dead in the water while the Rendell juggernaut continues to charge forward. Swann is gaining no ground on the popular Democratic Governor and, in fact, is having trouble within his own party, where more than a quarter of Republicans are supporting Rendell," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
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Results here:
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x19162.xml

...do you think he realizes why they picked him?

He was anointed by the right wing of the Pennsylvania GOP with Karl Rove's blessing (Swann was Bush's Advisor on Physical Fitness). Bill Scranton, a former Lieutenant Governor and scion of a prominent Republican family, was dispensed with tout de suite to make room for Lynn Swann.

Big mistake.

Swann may be of the opinion that he can BS his way along just on charm and his celebrity status as a former football player alone, but he's up against Ed Rendell who's wildly popular and outraising Swann 2-1.

I would venture to guess that Swannie's banking on the start of football season and the "nostalgia" vote to help him out. Won't happen.

Part of Jubelier getting bounced in the primary was him putting Swann up ... Scranton was clearly the better candidate, but I agree that someone saw Swann as a black Bush ... They are VERY similar in a lot of ways ... I saw Swann talk at a R convention and I saw this ... I think they got fancy, and got burned for it ...

What has been surprising is that Swann has not been as "charming" as you would have thought ... When I have seen him since, he looks very superficial (some of the bush comparison) but also very uptight, and the media has not taken to him cause they have shielded him so much ...

Also, some call Pennsylvania Montana with Pittsburgh and Philly on either end, and there is some truth to that ... As a man of color, at best, he is going to leave a lot of mid/northern PA repubs from going to the polls ...

Finally, Rendell is kind of like Clinton ... He REALLY likes his job, he enjoys getting out, meeting people ... And, he has been very aggressive early on ... He is going for the kill early ...

Anyone who sucks up to an administration that lies is hardly 'nice' in my book

if he doesn't know why he was chosen by the GOP then he is an idiot
Etan Thomas (NBA star and poet and peace activist) calls men like Swann cockroaches - so right

But I wouldn't want him for my Governor!!!!

I lived in Pgh during the Steeler dynasty, and Bradshaw, Stalwart, and Swann couldn't be beat! In fact, I haven't seen any team work and think together like it since! I still watch "My Steelers" no matter where I move to. I also watched the Super Bowl Parade via the net this year, and when I heard Swann speak, I knew I was right. He was a GREAT football player, but he sure is NO politician!!!!!!!

Like Arnold, he's no career politician. The PA GOP will find out soon enough that they're not in California. They're also banking on the celebrity angle.