PA Gubernatorial Race 2006

[Keystone Phil]

Scranton wins endorsement vote...if held today.


http://harrisburgbuzz.blogspot.com/2005/12/swann-easy-come-easy-go.html

[Jake]

I think I've decided to back Swann and Matthews, simply because they're the best possible ticket left.

[Keystone Phil]

I think I've decided to back Swann and Matthews, simply because they're the best possible ticket left.

I've been on board with Swann for awhile. I've been leaning towards Matthews and I'll likely end up supporting him because of the regional advantage and Turzai's support for Scranton.

[TeePee4Prez]

I think I've decided to back Swann and Matthews, simply because they're the best possible ticket left.

I've been on board with Swann for awhile. I've been leaning towards Matthews and I'll likely end up supporting him because of the regional advantage and Turzai's support for Scranton.

I'm more afraid of Scranton than Swann.  The question I have is will the pro-choice Southeastern Republicans show party loyalty and back Scranton like they did in 1986.

[Keystone Phil]

I'm more afraid of Scranton than Swann.  The question I have is will the pro-choice Southeastern Republicans show party loyalty and back Scranton like they did in 1986.

They will see no reason to leave someone they already like for someone so similar.


Some news - Rendell leads Scranton and Swann by single digits while blowing Piccola and Paynard out of the water - http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/pa_poll_1221.htm

[Keystone Phil]

Both Swann and Piccola have endorsed Matthews for Lt. Governor. It looks like the unofficial tickets (Since we have a seperate primary for Governor and Lt. Governor) will be Swann/Matthews and Scranton/Turzai.

[Speed of Sound]

I just received an e-mail from the Swann campaign. He said that he will "embark on a historic journey to change Pennsylvania" on January 4th. Seems that that's an obvious announcement of candidacy date.

No, it sounds like he's going to convert to Islam and complete the Hajj.

Anyways, December has been a dull month for this race...

yeah it has. I hope Jan. brings some interesting news (which im sure it will)

[Keystone Phil]

It was made official today. Check out Swann's updated website.

[bullmoose88]

Hmm...toss up between party and region.

Not sure how I'll vote yet on this one.

[Reaganfan]

I am a Swann supporter for sure now...and he can beat Rendell if PA fights enough. He maybe in his mid-50's, but he has the charisma of a 30 year old. Nice family, good public speaker....Swann for Governor. If he's elected governor, he can probably get the state prosperous more so than it is under Rendell.

[Speed of Sound]

It was made official today. Check out Swann's updated website.

I saw it last night on ESPN news.

[Dr. Cynic]

I so far see Ed Rendell winning... Not by double digits as some have suggested, though.

[Jake]

I am a Swann supporter for sure now...and he can beat Rendell if PA fights enough. He maybe in his mid-50's, but he has the charisma of a 30 year old. Nice family, good public speaker....Swann for Governor. If he's elected governor, he can probably get the state prosperous more so than it is under Rendell.

Um, Swann cannot make PA much more prosperous than we already are. That is, unless he suddenly finds a few million orders for steel.

[TeePee4Prez]

Scranton/Turzai just made me fear the Swann ticket a bit more.  Scranton should pick Matthews and that ticket would be lethal in the Southeast. 

[Keystone Phil]

Scranton/Turzai just made me fear the Swann ticket a bit more.  Scranton should pick Matthews and that ticket would be lethal in the Southeast. 

It will be Swann/Matthews. How much difference could Scranton make in SE PA? Moderate Republicans (Rendell Republicans) would see no reason for leaving Eddie.

And both of us know that you're pushing it with this "lethal" stuff. You know that no team (Not even with someone like Castor on the ticket) could be "lethal" here against Rendell. Scranton is not some star.

[Moooooo]

I like Swann.  Probably wouldnt vote for him, but he seems like a genuinely down to earth, good guy.

My only question is, can he talk issues, policy, and debate with a professional politician like Rendell?

[Keystone Phil]

My only question is, can he talk issues, policy, and debate with a professional politician like Rendell?

He seems to be a good speaker but we haven't really seen him in action. Many seem concerned about his knowledge of the issues and his debating skills but I think people are underestimating him. The first debate is coming up soon (Primary candidates) so we will see.

[TeePee4Prez]

My only question is, can he talk issues, policy, and debate with a professional politician like Rendell?

He seems to be a good speaker but we haven't really seen him in action. Many seem concerned about his knowledge of the issues and his debating skills but I think people are underestimating him. The first debate is coming up soon (Primary candidates) so we will see.

I think Swann is going to have trouble with Rendell on issues, but you can't underestimate Swann's charisma and the ability to railroad himself through a deabte.  I still think Rendell will beat Swann but by about 6-8.

[Keystone Phil]

It's not like he was getting far anyway but the news of the night - Jeff Piccola is OUT of the Gubernatorial race, calling for unity against Rendell.

[minionofmidas]

Turzai is an interesting surname. Where are that guy's ancestors from?

[Smash255]

Apologize if this has been discussed, but what is with Rendell havina PA red in his banners.  Is it some sort of coincidence or some other message?  Just wondering because  the red state like that could imply close to Bush.  Which is not a good idea considering Bush's ugly PA numbers.

[J. J.]

The is elephant in the parlor that no one talking about, race.  If Swan can get a proportion of the African American vote in Phila, better than Bush's, it suddenly becomes a dead even race.  He gets 25% of the Black vote, holds Fisher's base, Swan wins.

[Keystone Phil]

Apologize if this has been discussed, but what is with Rendell havina PA red in his banners.  Is it some sort of coincidence or some other message?  Just wondering because  the red state like that could imply close to Bush.  Which is not a good idea considering Bush's ugly PA numbers.

1) I haven't even seen an official banner for him yet.

2) I don't even think most people like ourselves read that much into those things. The average voter especially doesn't do that.

[bullmoose88]

The is elephant in the parlor that no one talking about, race.  If Swan can get a proportion of the African American vote in Phila, better than Bush's, it suddenly becomes a dead even race.  He gets 25% of the Black vote, holds Fisher's base, Swan wins.

Not necessarily...it certainly gives him a good, if not great shot, but the way the state demographics change (more people in the philly burbs, less in the west, year in and year out) could dampen that strategy...which likely means Swann has to reach out a tad (since his base is sorta shrinking, if ever so slightly in the last 4 years)

[Smash255]

The is elephant in the parlor that no one talking about, race.  If Swan can get a proportion of the African American vote in Phila, better than Bush's, it suddenly becomes a dead even race.  He gets 25% of the Black vote, holds Fisher's base, Swan wins.

I think that would be quite hard for him to do.  Being African American may help him pull in a bit more of the Philly black vote than Bush did, but its highley unlikley he will get 25%.  One factor is African Americans in Philly just like most the country are very heavily Democratic, and African American republicans generally don't do that will with African Americans (look at the numbers Steele is getting froM African American's in a race against Cardin).  Another key factor why it will be very hard for Swann to pull that off is the fact that Rendell is very very  popular in Philadelphia across all racial lines & has has very strong African American support in the city.  Now if Rendell wasn't as popular in Philly as he is, didn't have the past connections to the city even before being Govenor as he has than their might be a better shot. 

In order to win Swann would pretty much need 25% of the African American Philly vote.  Simply being African American isn't going to get him that.  Swann being a Republican greatly hurts him at acheving that as does Rendell's immense popularity in the city, his past connections to the city, etc.