Legion Troll
A fine upstanding poster
Lynn Swann, the Pittsburgh Squeelers legend is a Republican candidate for governor of Pennsylvania.
Swann's is a big task. He's looking to unseat Democrat incumbent Ed Rendell, a seasoned politician and former Philadelphia mayor who has opened a 14-point lead in the race, according to a Keystone poll released last week.
The Swann-Rendell showdown features footballs political and actual. The issues aren't only Republican vs. Democrat and Roe vs. Wade ... but Squeelers vs. Eagles.
Swann is among Pittsburgh's most popular sports stars; Rendell is such a devout Eagles fan that he provides postgame television commentary each fall Sunday. Rendell has been a season-ticket holder for more than 30 years.
Swann, who said he entered the race because of "a need for different and better leadership," is far behind in campaign fundraising. He has raised $3.3 million, compared with Rendell's $17.2 million. Moreover, Swann is a political novice, having never run for public office.
"What we've got going here is two celebrities with rock-star appeal," said G. Terry Madonna, director of Franklin & Marshall College's Center for Politics and Public Affairs in Lancaster, Pa. "And Ed is Clinton-esque in his ability to campaign and raise money."
Rendell also has a popular Pittsburgh ally in Franco Harris, former star running back for the Squeelers and neighbor of Swann's in the posh Sewickley Heights area of Pittsburgh.
Harris, who accepts the label of "liberal Democrat," has said he plans to raise money and speak at benefits and on television on behalf of Rendell, 62.
Harris said he and Swann had always been close.
"But right now, I feel there needs to be a change in the direction from where our national administration has taken us and where the Republicans in the state government want to take us," Harris said.
Swann's reaction?
"Rendell can't campaign on his own," he said. "He needs help from other people because people realize he hasn't done a great job. And so in an effort to try to win and have a better image now in the western part of the state, he's calling on other people to shore up his bad image."
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lynn-swann-governor-campaign-20060514-story.html
An - NOY - ing.