Lynn Swann-review-Pintek

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/guests/s_469655.html
Why doesn't Swann quit and ask Russ to run?
==Does Swann really want to be governor?==
By Mike Pintek
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Fast Eddie Rendell is cruising toward re-election.
Pennsylvania voters seem addicted to returning
incumbents to the mansion in Harrisburg. But this year
should be different.
Remember the infamous pay raise? His Excellency first
called it "good legislation." But when it dawned on
him (and his Republican co-conspirators) that this
time the people really were "mad as hell," Rendell
said he only went along with it to "kiss a little
butt" with the Legislature.
Angry voters kicked out 17 incumbent legislators and a
Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice in retaliation. And
yet the grand facilitator of the scheme is unscathed.
The Keystone Poll has Democrat Rendell pummeling his
Republican challenger Lynn Swann by 19 points.
Rendell's latest? Term limits for legislators. Yeah,
right. The guy who signed the pay raise to "kiss a
little butt" now says he supports kicking their butts
out after eight years in office.
As Kutztown University poli sci professor Jack
Treadway put it, Rendell "is the consummate
politician. He's not a reformer. He's not the kind of
guy you expect to be talking about term limits."
But it sounds good, doesn't it? Rendell's as slippery
as grilled onions on a cheese-steak.
Four years ago, in an interview with me, candidate
Rendell pledged that slot machines would bring
Pennsylvania to the property tax cut Promised Land and
he assured us that raising personal income taxes was
not in the cards. It sounded good.
Four years later -- still no property tax cut, and
even if the slots money eventually flows, any tax cut
will be a pittance.
Meanwhile, we're paying higher personal income taxes
and higher cell phone taxes. Thanks, Ed.
The new state budget Rendell recently signed increases
state spending more than double the rate of inflation.
Are even higher taxes in our future?
And Lynn Swann can't get any traction. The Steelers
superstar's poll numbers are bad, fundraising is worse
and things are looking bleak. The Washington Times
reported in June that fellow Republicans described his
campaign as "arrogant and inept."
Last month, after purging all prohibited liquids to
clear the new TSA security rules, I jumped aboard the
tram headed for the gates at Pittsburgh International
and immediately recognized the well-dressed man; his
"Swann '06" lapel pin and the Super Bowl logo on his
luggage confirmed the ID.
Introducing myself as a member of the media (which was
only fair), I asked Swann where he was going.
"Harrisburg," he replied. "Me too," I said, adding,
"Shouldn't you have an entourage with you?"
"No," he said, almost sheepishly, I thought.
"For what it's worth, you've got my vote," I said as
we parted. He thanked me politely. I had thoughts of
talking to him about the campaign during our flight
but I also thought he seemed almost aloof,
disinterested, distracted, uncomfortable even.
At the gate, while Swann sat reading a newspaper, a
fan asked for an autograph and got it. I made my move.
Notebook in hand, I told him I was going to write a
column for the Trib about Rendell and would he mind if
I asked him a few questions?
I was surprised at the reply: "Yes, I do mind." He
told me to call the campaign to set up an interview.
Later, another man, a supporter too, approached him
and they talked briefly. It seemed all very cordial,
polite, but somehow lacking ... something.
I couldn't help making comparisons with candidates
like Rendell and the ever-energetic campaigner Sen.
Rick Santorum. For a politician, every contact with a
voter or a reporter is a job interview. I am not a
political proctologist, aka, "analyst"; I'm just "a
guy in the street" and I'm wondering if Lynn Swann
really wants the job.
In this multimedia age, perception is reality and the
reality is that I was left with the odd feeling in my
gut that candidate Swann would rather be left alone.
The way things are going, he'll have plenty of time
for that.
Mike Pintek is a veteran radio talk show host and
newsman. He lives in Seven Fields.