Posted on 09/02/2004 8:55:09 AM PDT by Nasty McPhilthy
Among the least noticed but most interesting supporters of President Bush is Lynn Swann, the finest wide receiver in the history of football. The fact that Lynn Swann is actively campaigning for the President is bad news for Democrats, much worse news that it might appear at first blush. It also falls in with a pattern in these atypical endorsements of President Bush by prominent people and politicians who are not conservative Republicans.
Lynn Swann is a class act. As a black athlete at the University of Southern California who actually acquired a superb education, as shown in his easy command of the English language, and as a man with not only two NCAA national championships but four Super Bowl rings, Lynn Swann is on a pedestal of sports greatness alongside men like Joe DiMaggio and Arnold Palmer - the very best, in every way.
Lynn Swann is also a heroes' hero in Pittsburgh. As I have noted in past articles, the recent endorsement of President Bush by the Democrat mayor of Youngston, Ohio will make it significantly easier for the President to carry Ohio, but it will also make it significantly easier for him to carry Pennsylvania, whose western half is very similar to the industrial regions of Ohio.
Now, not only has a political figure from the Rust Belt come out for President Bush, but perhaps the biggest sports hero in Pittsburgh history has always come out for President Bush. Any campaign to portray the President as anti-Democrat or anti-black in western Pennsylvania will look comically dishonest now.
The Swann endorsement will also help Bush carry Ohio, one of his two "must win" states and will solidify his lead in West Virginia, another battleground state. The Swan "bump" may be only one percentage point or less in these three states, but that gain is pure gold in these three states. Because Kerry cannot surrender Ohio and Pennsylvania and win the election, this will also compel him to spend time there instead of in Florida or Arizona or Iowa.
The Swann support also is the third straight blow that Democrats in Pennsylvania have endured in recent weeks. The Youngstown mayor was one, and the oozing moral stench of New Jersey Governor McGreevey, which easily whiffs over eastern Pennsylvania as well, is the other blow. The combined effect is not just to put Pennsylvania in play, but to make Bush the favorite in Pennsylvania.
He will be helped by a liberal Republican senator, Arlen Specter, running for reelection himself and who owes the President much and will campaign for him in liberal constituencies and by a very popular conservative senator, Rick Santorum.
The speech by the Governator also means that Democrats simply cannot count on carrying California. Arnold Schwarzenegger gave a powerful speech which was undoubtedly watched by many Californians. Compelling Kerry to fight for California will make it much easier for Bush to carry other states.
The same day that Governor Schwarzenegger gave his powerful endorsement of President Bush (boosting the President in all states, but particularly California), and that Lynn Swann endorsed President Bush (boosting the President in the triangle of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, but also helping nationally), the Republicans in Florida selected Mel Martinez, a very popular Cuban-American to be their Senate candidate. This will give the President a definite "bump" in Florida, give Republicans an excellent chance to pick up a Senate seat, and it will help Republicans win Hispanic votes throughout the nations, which will help especially in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, California and Nevada.
Add to all this the brilliant speech of Rudy Giuliani the night before, which New Yorkers would all be watching even if most Americans were not, and even New York may be in play. It is impossible to overstate the emotional tug of 9-11 to New Yorkers or their deep admiration for Rudy. Coming to New York for their convention is also a very "New York" type of gutsy call.
If polls begin to show President Bush within striking distance in the Empire State, then Kerry will have to spend time (and it is time and organization, not money, that Kerry has so little of now) simply to hold the most basic building block of Democrat victory.
President Bush, like President Eisenhower and President Reagan, has an innate gift for making his Democrat enemies underestimate him. Now, stuck with a pompous buffoon as a candidate, dying from a thousand cuts, the party of FDR is well on its way to becoming the party of Alf Landon.
Bruce Walker
I doubt this was prepared so he can think, as well as run, on his feet.
Saw Swann being interviewed on Fox yesterday...very intelligent and well-spoken. He said many athletes are Republicans because they value discipline and understand the concept of working together for a common goal.
My favorite story about a blown call was at a baseball game:
The umpire blew a call, and the organist started playing "Three Blind Mice".
The umpire, in a Kerryesque moment, tossed the organist.
Wonder if Doug Flutie is campaigning for Kerry? He is a well known liberal.
But I'm glad to see Swann supporting Bush.
Yeah, football players in general are conservative.
I knew there was a reason I didn't like him!
ping
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