Free Republic

The chair of the Allegheny County Dems, Jim Burn, has confirmed that “Hardballer” Chris Matthews has kept in touch with him about where things stand in "the west” since the weeks leading up to the Pennsylvania primary. “Chris was very inquisitive about the dynamic here in the west,” said Burn, “but equally as coy regarding whether or not he would actually run for the U.S. Senate.” Burn said before this year's primary that he and Matthews mostly discussed the presidential race between Senators Clinton and Obama. “In fact,

SLATINGTON, Pa. - Even a cinder-block fire hall, a sparse crowd, and bad lighting can't diminish Lynn Swann's star power. When he enters the Vigilant Fire Company, looking football-fit at 54 and wearing a suit and tie, the few dozen audience members pop out of their fold-up chairs to cheer him. Swann flashes a megawatt smile, grabs a stool at the front of the room, and tells them why he left a comfortable life as a celebrity broadcaster to run for governor of Pennsylvania. "If I didn't think we needed a change, I'd be content to stay at home, do...

President Bush received a rousing welcome today in Indiana where he spoke on behalf of Representative Mike Sodrel. Later, W traveled to South Carolina where he spoke to the men and women serving at Charleston Air Force Base. First Lady Laura Bush joined Representative Nancy Johnson at a campaign fundraiser in Farmington, Connecticut. Enjoy your Weekend on Sanity Island

A new Zogby Poll was released this week (8/30/06) showing once again that Lynn Swann is closing the gap with Ed Rendell. Rendell 48.4% Swann 43.5% This is a 3-point improvement over the last Zogby poll, released in mid-July, which showed Lynn 7-points down. To read more about the most recent poll, click here. As Zogby International notes on their research material, Zogby International was the most accurate polling firm of the 2004 Presidential election cycle. Not only did they most accurately predict the outcome of the Presidential election, they also accurately predicted the winner in 85% of the states...

PITTSBURGH—In his new book, A New Direction: My Plan for a Better Pennsylvania, Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann outlined his plan to increase job creation across Pennsylvania and stop Ed Rendell’s Harrisburg from hindering economic growth. The current administration’s burdensome business taxes cost Pennsylvania over 33,000 new jobs in 2004 alone. And in the Northeastern part of the state, manufacturing jobs dropped approximately 40 percent in Lackawanna County since 2000, 29 percent in the city of Scranton, and 15 percent in Luzerne County, according to newly released 2005 census data. The Swann/Matthews plan for job creation includes: · Returning the...

PITTSBURGH - Governor Ed Rendell recently released a new campaign advertisement highlighting his Administration's "tax cuts" and economic "cost cutting." Unfortunately, Rendell’s ad fails to tell Pennsylvanians the real story behind his failed economic record over the past four years: Rendell Rhetoric: "After facing a huge deficit his cost cutting and tough budgeting have produced a fourth balanced budget in a row."Reality: The Pennsylvania Constitution mandates that the budget is balanced. Rendell is bragging about following state law. Rendell hasn’t saved the Commonwealth money through "tough budgeting." In fact, the opposite is true. State spending has increased a staggering...

WASHINGTON -- Democrat Bob Casey maintained a slight lead over Republican Sen. Rick Santorum in Pennsylvania, but more voters say they have a poor opinion of the challenger, according to an independent poll released Thursday. In a three-way contest, the new Keystone Poll found Casey leading Santorum 44 percent to 39 percent among registered voters. Green Party candidate Carl Romanelli had 4 percent. Thirteen percent were undecided in the poll, which was conducted by Franklin & Marshall College between Aug. 16-21. In May, before Romanelli entered the race, the same pollster had Casey with a six-point lead over Santorum, the...

Gerry Robinson slowly made his way between the small, round tables set up in an exhibition hall here, as he and a couple hundred supporters of NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann awaited the arrival of President Bush. Bush spent the afternoon in southeastern Pennsylvania, where he also visited a Harley-Davidson plant, in an effort to shine a light on his handling of the economy and boost Swann's candidacy for governor. Both have been struggling lately. Polls have found that high gasoline prices and flat wages have left most Americans anxious about the economy. Meanwhile, Swann, a Republican, is facing...

I've been incessantly busy, and for that, I apologize - time has not been as readily available to me over the past few months, but I'll do my best to stick my head in here a bit more often as we move forward. This listing came across my desk this weekend -- it is a detailed list of black Republican candidates for state and national offices this year. They are definitely worth taking a look at, and, provided they meet with your personal approval (after seriously considering their credentials and viewpoints, of course), are worthy of your support. Thanks for...

Pa. races could set table for 2008 By Salena Zito TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, July 9, 2006 Welcome to Pennsylvania, known as "The Cradle of America" because the Founders drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. Fast-forward 230 years and it is about to become another national cradle - a political one -- for the 2006 midterm elections.

Swann asks Rendell to switch jobs By Michael Miller LEADER TIMES Friday, July 7, 2006 Lynn Swann wants to trade jobs with Gov. Ed Rendell. Swann, who worked for ABC sports for 28 years, told a crowd of supporters in Kittanning yesterday that he's looking to become the next governor, and that the governor can become a full-time broadcaster. Rendell has a side gig as a commentator for a cable network covering the Philadelphia Eagles. "Come November, vote for me for governor, and make him the broadcaster full-time," Swann said. The Republican candidate for governor spoke to a small crowd...

Bush may help Swann raise funds By David M. Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Tuesday, June 20, 2006 Lynn Swann is down in the polls, but his bid to unseat Gov. Ed Rendell is getting a boost from national GOP groups and a prospective presidential visit.

In fundraising, Rendell piles it on as Swann plays catch-up By David M. Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Friday, June 16, 2006 Lynn Swann was fleet on the gridiron, but the former Steelers star is eating Gov. Ed Rendell's dust in the dash to raise campaign cash.

Swans may look peaceful and elegant, but in some northeast Indiana lakes, they've got a bad attitude. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says there have been several confrontations between swans and people since Memorial Day. In one attack, a 13-year-old girl was swimming in the Lake James area when a mute swan pulled her under the water for several seconds until her father diverted the bird's attention. The mute swans can weigh about 30 pounds and have a wingspan of up to eight feet. D-N-R spokesman Rodney Clear says he's not sure what's prompting the attacks, though nesting season...

Same old Pa GOP: Issue the tomahawks Tuesday, June 6, 2006 What is it that the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania and powerful state legislative GOPers don't understand about being Republicans or conservatives? Just about everything.

Ridge urges GOP to unite behind Swann By Mike Wereschagin TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, May 31, 2006 Former Gov. Tom Ridge urged Republicans to put aside their misgivings about Lynn Swann and unite behind him in his bid to unseat Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell.

A sliver of hope for the Swann campaign? By Salena Zito TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, May 28, 2006 The opposing team is befuddled. The media are bored. The electorate is disengaged. And the campaign team? Bush (with a small "b") league.

Swann alleges Rendell camp thwarts would-be donors By The Associated Press Friday, May 26, 2006 PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Republican gubernatorial hopeful Lynn Swann said Friday that some of his supporters are not contributing to his campaign because people in the Rendell administration or the governor's campaign have indicated it could jeopardize their state contracts or grants. "His party machinery is out there putting the squeeze on people, saying 'don't contribute to Swann's campaign,"' Swann told The Associated Press in his first extended interview with a Pennsylvania news organization.

Ridge to join Swann's campaign By David M. Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann hopes to get a boost by adding former Gov. Tom Ridge, a heavy hitter in Pennsylvania politics, to his campaign team.

GOP Pins Hopes on Black Republicans By KRISTEN WYATT, Associated Press Writer 8 minutes ago Hope springs eternal when black Republicans seek higher office, yet often the first question that hits them is what are they doing in the GOP. This election year, a man named Steele in Maryland and a former football star named Swann in Pennsylvania are among a small but determined number of black candidates trying to win one for the Republicans despite the Democratic Party's near lock on the black vote. Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, a former seminarian with a law degree from Georgetown University,...