Posted on 04/16/2006 3:11:39 PM PDT by NorthEasterner
Swann's hour of crisis By Salena Zito TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Here stands a man on the precipice of pulling off the Cinderella political story of the year. Yet, because he is woefully unprepared, he stands at risk of falling flat on his face.
And no one will remember who ran his campaign. All that will be remembered is that he lost, that he looked unprepared, that he couldn't raise money. Swann's name will carry the folly of this campaign.
Is that what he wants his legacy to be? Is that what the Republican Party had in mind?
Swann himself needs to have a come-to-Jesus moment. How badly does he want to be governor?
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
ROTFLMAO!!
i know miss zito, she has worked on 3 presientials (REagan, Bush and Bush) two us senators (Santorum) and two governors (Fisher, Ridge)
she is a seasoned campaigner in PA
i think her point is swann needs better people around him or he cant win
read between the lines and hell read her other stuff on Swann
i think her frustration is showing, she is a hard core conservative
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/opinion/columnists/zito/
Um...NO, did you know Salena is a Freeper?
Guess I should have read more posts before the correction.
hey cool someone likes me somebody really likes me...
I'm personally a 9/11 conservative(converted left leaner since 9/11), I suppose that means I'm a dreaded neo-con. I am hoping Swann wins this and doing what I can to sway some minds in my area.
I think this is the one thing voters hate worse than bad canidates that get elected - operatives that get them elected.
Good catch, deport.
In this case, YES. Swann can win this election if he quits running on the "I'm Lynn Swann, vote for an ex-Steeler" trip and actually try to win.
If you'd read some of Salena's other work you'd see she's no "Loud Dowd" nor a fanatical operative.
Guys,
Look, I am a die hard conservative, as I was interviewing Swann, I was shocked and disapointed as to how he was being managed. As someone that has worked for years on GOP campaigns I saw trouble, BIG trouble at what was going on.
I took a HUGE risk writing that story, I risked and more than likely lost friends that are running it, I risked my relationship with the GOP brass and I risked my friends and family in Freeper land, but I had to do what was right, the only risk i could not take was to let SWANN's campaign continue to run a viable smart conservative into the ground...end of story.
Beat me up if you will i knew that going in, but it was an awkward story that had to be told, now it is up to the grounds people to help him
I realize that it's small sample size, but it is my considered opinion that it would be a bad idea for Swann to name Chuck Noll as his campaign manager. As I recall, Chuck Tanner was the campaign manager for Jim Rooker's failed congressional race a number of years ago ('96 maybe?)...I was away from PA by then, and no doubt there were other reasons why Rooker's campaign fizzled even before the primary...but I think your point is that a candidate needs an experienced campaign manager. So appointing another outsider like Noll wouldn't work. I also realize you didn't necessarily mean the suggestion literally. Perhaps you were asking for someone who would force some discipline on him. If he is of a mind to take a vacation, why not do it in say, the Poconos or other parts of the state where he is not well known -- maybe take a few hours out of his day to get himself booked on talk radio stations during his travels.
Now I thought it was the party insiders who endorsed Swann over Scranton. Can't they get him the campaign help that he needs?
Actually they aren't welcomed that warmly. Only if a white dem doesn't exist will one be endorsed.
And Ken Blackwell gets trashed in Ohio by Dems and by a certain wing of the Ohio Republican Party.
Some folks who have never been in the political arena have a hard time grasping it's realities. I'm not one of them and desperately hope that Mr. Swann has his "come-to-Jesus moment" real soon and wins this race!
I don't think Swann is going to beat Rendell politically. Sometimes honesty trumps polish. I hope the people of PA are not expecting Swann to be all things to all people like Rendell portrays himself. I also don't think believing in your candidate, and being willing to do anything to get him elected, disqualifies one from campaigning for them.
It would have been helpful to include some more examples of misteps as other posters have pointed out.
Thanx for the heads up on the campaign. I will look for your other editorials NorthEasterner.
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