Of course his football status is a plus. Celebrity is always a plus for a candidate these days.
We will have to respectfully disagree about his race helping 'very little.' I believe Swann's color nullifies the argument that would be made in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh 'working class' hoods that he's a racist. Uncle Tom charges don't stick well enough to drag in moderate blacks against a black man. If he were Hispanic he would be charged with racism against blacks, and even that might stick. But just as Clarence Thomas and Justice Brown got through the appointment process, so will Gov. Swann get through the electoral process--barring complete idiocy in the past or sheer stupidity in the future.
Why would they be able to paint him as a racist if he's white? Or is that just a thing in Phili, paint every R as a racist?