Lynn Swann Expected To Announce For Pa. Governor, As Republican

But can he catch Ed Rendell?

Lynn Swann, the former Pittsburgh Steelers star and veteran football commentator for ABC Sports, is expected to declare his candidacy for Pennsylvania governor Wednesday.

Swann planned to open a three-day tour of the state at a rally in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night, before flying to similar events in six other cities - Erie, Altoona and Scranton on Thursday, and Philadelphia, Allentown and Lancaster on Friday.

Aides declined to confirm the purpose of the tour, but Swann's political committee - Team 88, named after the number on the former wide receiver's football jersey - has been raising money for 11 months. Swann also has billed himself as a prospective candidate as he has courted GOP activists across the state.

"It might be easy to assume" the subject of Swann's announcement, acknowledged his campaign spokeswoman, Melissa Walters, who also referred to the upcoming flyover as an "announcement tour."

It surprises me that more athletes and ex-military men don't run for office on the Republican ticket. They're naturals for the party with either big name recognition or a great resume (or both), and yet... not a huge number of them.

If Swann doesn't announce (which, apparently, he's going to), then I say we just draft Jerome Bettis. Get on the bus.

posted by Ace at 01:28 AM

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