(Lynn) Swann Endorses Matthews (for PA Lt. Gov.)

The Times Herald ^ | December 22, 2006 | Margaret Gibbons

[AuH2ORepublican]

Swann endorses Matthews By: MARGARET GIBBONS, Times Herald Staff 12/22/2005

COURTHOUSE - Republican gubernatorial hopeful Lynn Swann is throwing his support behind the lieutenant governor candidacy of Montgomery County Commissioners Chairman James R. Matthews.

In a letter sent this week to county GOP Chairman Ken Davis, Swann acknowledged his support for Matthews was twofold - that they were both on the same page philosophically and that Matthews' presence on the November election ballot would balance the GOP ticket.

"Jim will also bring strength to the ticket in one of the most important battleground areas," said Swann in the letter. "I know how important it is to improve our vote totals in Montgomery County and Southeastern Pennsylvania and I am convinced that Jim is the type of running mate who can make that happen."

Swann, a former Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver and television sports commentator who is expected to formally announce his candidacy next month, is a frontrunner for the GOP gubernatorial nomination.

The other major challenger for that nomination is former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton, who hails from the northeast part of the state and is the son of a former governor. The winner of the GOP primary election will face off against Democratic incumbent Ed Rendell in the November general election.

In the primary elections, the gubernatorial candidates and those running for lieutenant governor run in separate races. The winners of those two contests are then paired as a team in the November election.

In his letter, Swann said he hopes to pick up an endorsement from the county GOP committee members. "A Swann/Matthews ticket is right for Pennsylvania," said Swann.

Montgomery County GOP leaders, including Matthews and Davis, to date have not yet indicated their preference for the GOP gubernatorial nomination.

A results of a telephone poll, performed last week by Strategic Visions, show that 39 percent of the GOP voters polled indicated they wanted Swann to go up against Rendell while another 36 percent favored Scranton.

Rendell, the former Philadelphia mayor seeking his second four-year term as governor, would handily defeat both of those candidates, according to the poll.

In a match-up between Rendell and Swann, Rendell would receive 45 percent of the vote, Swann 41 percent, with 14 percent undecided, according to the poll. In a Rendell-Scranton race, Rendell again would get 45 percent of the vote while Scranton would get 42 percent with 13 percent undecided, poll results show.

The poll involved calls to 1,200 likely voters including 576 voters (48 percent) identifying themselves as Democrats, 504 (42 percent) labeling themselves Republicans and 120 voters (10 percent) identifying themselves as nonpartisan or affiliated with a third party.

The poll has a margin of error of plus-minus three percent.

Matthews, a 56-year-old Lower Gwynedd resident who heads a mortgage company, is serving his second four-year term as county commissioner. This is the second year of Matthews' reign as commissioners chairman. "It is clear that Jim and I share the same philosophy when it comes to creating jobs, improving education, reducing taxes and reforming state government," Swann said in his letter.

[AuH2ORepublican]

Jim Matthews is the chairman of the Montgomery County Commission (Montco is the Democrat-trending county just north of Philly), and the brother of Hardball host Chris Matthews. While those aren't exactly calling cards for conservatives, Lynn Swann appears to be comfortable enough with Matthews as to endorse him in the Lieutenant Governor primary. Here is some information on Matthews, : http://www.montcogop.org/gopteam_matthews.htm

A ticket with Lynn Swann (who is extremely popular in the Pittsburgh area since his Steelers' days and might be able to cut into Democrat margins among black voters) for Governor and a popular Philly subarbanite like Matthews for Lt. Gov. would give us our best chance possible to defeat Gov. Ed Rendell next November. Rendell's game plan is to win big in the Philly suburbs and tread water in the rest of the state, and if a Swann-Matthews ticket can get over 45% in the suburban Philly counties of Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware and Chester, they will defeat Rendell (President Bush got 46.22% in the Philly suburbs in 2004 on his way to 48.42% statewide, but Swann will outperform Bush in Western PA and possibly in black parts of Philly).

[RockinRight]

Hmm. I don't know if I'm impressed with Swann endorsing Chrissy's brother.

[AmishDude]

I'm pretty comfortable with (attorney) Bob Bennett's brother.

[AuH2ORepublican]

I don't think a mortgage banker who has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for over 30 years and switched from Democrat to Republican in the past decade (a time in which many socially liberal Republicans became Democrats and socially conservative Democrats became Republicans) fits the profile of a "celebrity politician."

I don't know enough about Jim Matthews to make a judgment about him, but I think being endorsed by a conservative such as Lynn Swann says more about his character than the fact that his brother happens to be Chris Matthews. (Chris Matthews, BTW, used to be a conservative Democrat but has become more liberal as time has gone by.)

I posted this story in part to see if FReepers can shed some light on Jim Matthews's views and record; hopefully we'll know a bit more about him in the coming days.

[RockinRight]

Well it's always possible that Jim Matthews is a conservative, I mean, look at Ron Reagan (the pantywaist son, not the Gipper) vs. his Dad...politics doesn't always run in the family.

[Dog Gone]

Chris's head might explode if his brother wins. I'd buy that for a dollar.

[Theodore R.]

I believe that I have heard Chris Matthews say that he had conservative family members, but I have not watched his program in several years. I did not know that Rendell was beatable.

[pgkdan]

Rendell, the former Philadelphia mayor seeking his second four-year term as governor, would handily defeat both of those candidates, according to the poll.

In a match-up between Rendell and Swann, Rendell would receive 45 percent of the vote, Swann 41 percent, with 14 percent undecided, according to the poll. In a Rendell-Scranton race, Rendell again would get 45 percent of the vote while Scranton would get 42 percent with 13 percent undecided, poll results show.

It's amazaing that the reporter had the cheek to actually write that first paragraph and then follow it with teh actual poll numbers that make him a liar. 45% vs 41 or 42% is hardly 'handily' defeating anyone!The MOE in this poll was +/-3% and was skewed slightly to the democrats. Anytime a sitting Governor polls only better than 1 point of the MOE against a 'possible' candidate I'd put my money on the challenger.

[ken5050]

Do you think that a GOP ticket with Swann at the top cannhelp give Santorum a little boost?

[pgkdan]

I've heard Matthews say that his father and brothers were very conservative and disagreed with him on everything political.

[Eva]

No, Chris's brother has been in Republican politics for almost as long as Chris has been in Democrat politics. Chris used to mention it on his show, back in the days of the Clinton impeachment, when I used to watch Hardball occasionally. Mathew's brother was from the area where my husband grew up, so I paid attention.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Do you think that a GOP ticket with Swann at the top can help give Santorum a little boost?"

---

I think it might help a bit, especially if his presence on the ballot gets a few black voters to actually look at what the GOP is offering. But I think Santorum will win or lose based on one man---Rick Santorum. I think he'll end up winning in the end, since Bob Casey, Jr. doesn't have much to offer except his father's name and since I think 50%-53% of Pennsylvanians agree with Rick Santorum more often than they disagree with him (and that's enough to win).

[ken5050]

Thanks for the feedback..I tend to agree. Santorum pulls it out.. I think Casey's numbers are at their peak..as soon as he opens his mouth they will drop..One other question, if I may..those of us NOT in PA, based upon his many appearances on the national media, have the erroneous sense that Rendell is very popular...I mean, there was even a mini Rendell for the WH boomlet a while back...but he's really tanked of late..so you might well get many voting AGAINST him...

[napscoordinator]

We Pennsylvanians do NOT want to give any boost to Santorum. He is s snake and trader to the Republicans!!!

[scrabblehack]

Hmmm....Pa's voters often split their tickets but often not...

1998 Ridge R Specter R
1994 Ridge R Santorum R
1986 Casey D Specter R
1982 Thornburg R Heinz R
1974 Shapp D Schweiker R

Other candidates for Lt. Gov. include:

Mike Turzai (state Rep. -- Pittsburgh area)
Greg Sahd (Lancaster Co.)

Politics1.com also lists Carol Aichele (Chester Co.) and Bruce Castor (Montgomery Co.) as possible candidates....