The same problems are continuing to cause problems for Lynn Swann. Inclduing that fact that Swann is not gaining the contributions to his campaign that he would have liked to receive. A few days go, The Teamsters Union and Jim Hoffa decided to back Ed Rendell over Lynn Swann and contribute $100,000 to his campaign. As of today, Swann has not received any large contributions to his campaign, but that does not mean he cannot win, but he will need to find help elsewhere. The fact that Swann is behind in campaign funds has for the first time has affected the goings of his campaign and the people he can reach. It was recently released that Rendell has gained a 14-point led on Swann, due to a $1 million TV blitz. It was also found that Swann has not expressed enough of his views for the voters to know what Swann is really about. Voters what to know what Swann would do if he was elected governor on issues such as property tax, health care, and what he could do about the current gas prices. Swann has not started a TV campaign and this may be due to his lack of funds and his inability to sort out the issues in his own campaign.


http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/search/s_449537.html

Lynn Swann is getting some advice from other politicians, get a firmer grasp on the issues and make your voters realize them. Sen. Arlen Specter believes that Swann has a good chance of winning once his campaign ideas are more thoroughly expressed. Mr. Specter commented that Swann needs to “go into the community and get his hands dirty." I think that Swann must become much more versed on the issues that are facing the black community, like employment and the court systems. If he is able to do this he will likely gain voters in not only the black community, but also whiter liberal voters. This will be a considerable improvement, considering that many other politicians believe that he is lacking in these populations and needs them in order to win. More or less, he must have more voters than just young black men, who are a fan of his because he was a great athlete.

In other news regarding the gubernatorial election, Swann has reenergized the election season this year. Over the past few elections, in many counties of Pennsylvania, there has been a decrease in voter turn out. This however, is likely to change in the November election. This is most due to the fact that Swann is running for governor. This fact is making its biggest impact in Western Pennsylvania, where sports mean so much. People are starting to favor Swann because he is seen as a more “regular guy,” he is not seen as a politician. Rather he is regarded as a person wanting to make a change for the people of Pennsylvania. Considering that he is not your typically nominee and that this is his first election, he is an out-of-the-box candidate. There are many voters who will believe that this fact alone will create a change and a better Pennsylvania. All in all, this is news that will help Swann as long as he uses his unique characteristics to his advantage.


http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06112/684238-178.stmhttp://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06106/682017-58.stm

Lynn Swann has finally given some details into what his campaign platform for the November election. On April 6, Swann called for reductions in two key state revenue-raisers, the personal income tax rate and the corporate net income tax. In January 2004, Gov. Rendell raised the personal income tax rate to 3.07 percent, he explained that this was done to erase the state budget deficit inherited from the state’s Republican party. Swann believes that because the state of Pennsylvania will have a surplus of between 300 to 500 million dollars, the personal tax rate should be decreased to the previous level of 2.8 percent. Regarding the corporate tax rate, Swann believed that the nation’s highest rate of 9.99 percent should also be decreased. However, he did not state specific reasons why this should be done, other than the fact that it is one of the nations highest rates. He also explained that he wants to phase out the inheritance tax to be to protect Pennsylvania’s senior citizens, small family-owned businesses and family farms.

Although these sound like great ideas that would help the citizens of Pennsylvania, politicians for years have called for these changes. Swann did not say how he would make up the expected 1 billion dollars deficit that these tax decreases would create. That is a lot of money and yet Swann has not explain how he is going to make of these inadequacies.

Swann has also faced some difficulties in financing his campaign. It was released that incumbent Ed Rendell has more than 10 times the amount of money as Swann. He is lacking in donations from all sources, however donors from Pennsylvania are especially lacking. Swann has received only $50,000 from Pennsylvania donors, while Rendell has received more an $1.9 million.

Another issue facing Swann is how the voters view him and his campaign. A poll completed on March 31, found that the first thought that most people arrive at is that he is a football player. Another adjective used to describe Swann is that he is inexperienced, unqualified, but honest. While Rendell is first considered as a politician and other adjectives were experienced and confident. However, some consider Rendell a liar and a crook. It will be interesting to see what the voters will do in November. Will they vote for a person who is inexperienced, yet honest? Or someone who is experienced, but considered a crook? It seems that Swann will need to express his ideas more fully and explain how he will make up for the deficiencies.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06095/679414-178.stm
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06095/679470-178.stm
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06095/679470-178.stm

Lynn Swann is not only campaigning to become the next governor of Pennsylvania, but he is also a part of the changing face of the Republican Party. The fact that Swann is the Reuplican candidate for governor demonstrates that not matter what race that an individual is, he or she can be apart of any political party. For the past decades, blacks have been predominately associated with Democrats, but it has been changing recently. Swann, among others are black individuals are running for office this term under the Republican Party ticket.

In regards to Swann’s campaign, in an independent poll it has been found that Swann and Rendell are in a dead heat. It was published that both Rendell and Swann have around 44 percent of the vote, with 10 percent being undecided. This poses well for Swann because very few incumbents (Rendell) that have less then 50 percent of the vote are reelected. It is important that Swann focuses on the differences between himself and Rendell and make sure that the people of Pennsylvania also recognize them. This is the time when Swann can gain more votes by explaining his views and political ideas to the citizens. Swann must establish diversity between himself and Rendell, if he hopes to become the next governor.

In the past few days, Ed Rendell is making news by urging the Pennsylvania legislature to come to a compromise about the tax issue. It is known that a bill for tax cuts needs to be passed, but the problem is that a majority backing any bill is not present. Swann has spoken out about the stagnancy and exclaimed that Rendell has done nothing to resolve the tax problems, even though; it was the central platform, when he was elected in 2002. Swann went on to comment, that if he were elected governor, he would make sure that his platforms would be passed. This is a great idea, however, Swann still has yet to announce what his platforms are and what he wants to change.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06065/665940.stm
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/search/s_434219.html

Lynn Swann has been consistent in two areas during his run for governor of Pennsylvania. One area includes the fact that he has only voted in 17 of the 43 elections since registering in Allegheny County in 1984. Although this may not be a big deal to everyone, it plays to his character and what he represents. It shows an inconsistency between his comments and his actual actions. In 2004, he stated, "I have always been someone to believe that when you have certain freedoms, you should exercise them and not take it for granted. If you don't take part in the process and you don't vote, then I am not willing to listen to your complaints." If Swann has voted in less than half of the elections in 22 years, then why does he have the ability to complain about what the current administration is doing? According to his own words, if you do not vote, you cannot complain and expect change.

The other area pertains to his campaign in general and it that he still has not expanded on what his administration plans to do for Pennsylvania, if he is elected. At a small Republican convention held in Allegheny County, he declared that he would be the next governor. He went on to blast incumbent governor Ed Rendell’s policies and lack of change that has occurred during his time in office. Swann pointed out that Ed Rendell never asked what the people wanted and therefore only acted in ways that would benefit himself and people like him. Swann did not describe what his administration would do not ensure that the people of Pennsylvania were heard. Or what would be done to guarantee that the people’s wants come to fruition.

Since I have been following Lynn Swann’s campaign it seems like he has not opened up about how he would like to change Pennsylvania if he is elected governor. Every article I have read states that he was a great football player and that is something that cannot be taken away from him. However, I think that his lack of information about his campaign and his reliance on fame and good fortune may end up being a detriment to his bid for governor. This is because the people of Pennsylvania are not stupid and the majority will not vote for Swann solely because he is famous. He must explain how and what his administration will do to improve on what Ed Rendell did while in office. More or less, if Ed Rendell is such a bad governor and needs to be replaced, as Swann says, what is Swann going to do to improve the situation once in office? This question among others must be answered in the next few weeks, if Swann has a chance to be elected governor.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06057/661366.stm

Good news for Lynn Swann, all of his opponents for the Republican nominee for governor have dropped out of the race. Now the only person standing in front of Swann becoming governor is the incumbent Gov. Ed Rendell. Although at first glance it appears to be a great thing, that he no longer has any competition, he has not had the opportunity to debate. The citizens of Pennsylvania have not seen him speak about his campaign and the various issues that he believes in. He needs more than his celebrity status as a football star to be the governor.

I think that Swann still needs to make the ideas and issues of his campaign to be brought out. This is because that many people believe that it will be hard for Swann, to be separated from the Harrisburg power structure. This is due to the fact that his campaign directors and aides all used to work for Republican Gov. Tom Ridge among others. There is this notion that in order to be elected to state office you must agree with what is going on in Harrisburg. Swann has not made mention of his ideas regarding the need for the Pennsylvania legislature to decrease in size and cost. Swann apparently supports a bill that would reduce the size of the Senate to 30 members, from 50 and the size of the House to 121, from 103. However, this was only mention from his press secretary and has not actually spoken from him. This is another aspect that Swann needs to improve on. He needs to speak his thoughts, beliefs, and ideas to the citizens of Pennsylvania. Otherwise, it seems as if he is a puppet doing and saying the things that his campaign’s director and aides tell him to say.

The only item he has announced is that he wants to bring more jobs to Pennsylvania and reduce taxes. However, his stand on these two issues is the same as Ed Rendell and many other political candidates regardless of state, so they do not separate him. It seems as though he is riding on the support from the Super Bowl and the success of the Steelers, to be his backing, rather than his vision and beliefs.


http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06043/654222.stm
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06046/655454.stm

On Tuesday, Lynn Swann came one step closer to winning the Republican nomination for governor when he received 33 votes from state committee members from the southwest portion of the state, while Bill Scranton, the former Lt. Gov. only received 23 votes. In order to secure the Republican nomination, Swann needs to acquire endorsement from at least 180 state committee member. After the vote last night, Swann has accumulated 202 endorsements. However, the full state committee vote for endoresement occurs on February 11th, and at that point we will know who will be the Republican party nominee. This is an important factor that will help Swann continue to gain support from not only state committee members, but also voters in the primary.

This week, State Senator Don White announced his support of Lynn Swann by stating, that he felt that Swann's "level of passion" for the job is higher than former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton. Although White had not originally intended to support Swann, he believed that Swann has a better perspective on issues than his opponents.

Swann has also agreed to participate in 3 televised debates coming up in the spring. However, his opponent Scranton is critcizing Swann for not taking part in a debate before the state committee's endorsement vote.

I believe that because Swann appears to have the needed state committee votes to receive the endorsement, the need for him to participate in a debate before February 11th is mute. The only reason that Scranton wants him to have a debate is so that he can continue to ask Swann why he has not elaborated on his campaign ideas. It seems that because Scranton has received little support from state committee members and therefore is trying to get in the spotlight and take it away from Swann. Even without giving out more details of his campaign, Swann is still receiving the support needed to become the Republican nominee for governor. However, I think that he will need to elaborate on his beliefs and ideas in the near future in order to continue the support and win the nomination.


http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06032/647642.stm
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/search/s_418936.html