GOP Bailing on Swann

Penn Live ^ | 10-13-206 | GOPer4life

[GOPer4life]

The firewall strategy Posted by Brett Lieberman /The Patriot-News October 13, 2006 08:11 Pennsyltucky Politics Index Print | Email

National Republicans remain hopeful that Rick Santorum can turn the election around, but they're not opening their checkbooks to help him out. Instead, they're focusing on a firewall strategy to save more competitive seats in Ohio, Missouri, Tennessee and some would say Virginia.

The Washington Post writes about the broader GOP fallback strategy, which includes pulling airtime reserved in areas that favor Democrats in order to protect vulnerable Republicans.

Democrats say its a clear sign the GOP has written Santorum off, Republicans say he has enough money and is a better campaigner than other vulnerable incumbents.

"The truth probably rests a little with both sides," says Muhlenberg College's Chris Borick.

Santorum's poll numbers have been "stagnant," voters dislike him and without Green Party candidate Carl Romanelli to siphon Bob Casey Jr.'s votes it's tough for the Republican to get over 50 percent.

But Borick says he would be "shocked if the strategists in the party are writing off the campaign."

Lynn Swann, on the other hand, he says "clearly the RGA and national party have more or less written that off as a race to spend money regardless of the spin."

[GOPer4life]

I hope the State Republican Party is happy in PA for nominating Lynn. Swann is done and there is still 4 weeks to go in the election.

This year Ed Rendell was beatable and the State GOP blew their chance to nominate a good candidate.

We need to clean house at the state and national GOP.

Eliene Melvin - Already gone Robert Gleason - Next to go Jan Rea - Next to go Christine Olson - National - Next to go

We need to oust these people who are responsible and get state and national GOP committee members who are not rubber stamps for the establishment.

Who will the State GOP nominate in 2010?

Maybe Terrell Owens, Donovan McNabb, or I got it. Jerome Bettis. Yeah, He fits the template. He is Black, a former football player (that is most important, and a television announcer. Perfect match.

[Red Badger]

GOP takes SWANN DIVE?.............

[ConservativeDude]

Why was Swan such a poor candidate?

[Buck W.]

I don't think the GOP had a good candidate in PA. This isn't entirely Swann's fault. I hope he runs again for another office.

[airborne]

Yup!

Just like they screwed Toomey.

Just like they're doing now to Irey!

[oceanview]

he isn't. PA is a solidly Dem state now, its time people accepted it. the spread of people leaving NY and NJ, and bringing their politics with them, has moved PA into the Dem column. Casey is a terrible candidate - looks bad, speaks poorly - he is still winning.

[snarks_when_bored]

This reads a bit incoherently: has the GOP written Santorum off or Swann off or both?

[hometoroost]

He's new to the game but he's not a bad candidate. National Review had a very favorable article on him and people I know and trust who have met him say he is a quick study, very honest, and is doing the right things. He will be back.

But, on the other hand you could say that being smart and honest aren't two traits one normally associates with political candidates so maybe he was a bad choice.

[LS]

Well, baloney. All you need to know is that this is taken from the Washington Post. End of credibility for the article.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The RNC has its priorities. Socialists such as Chaffe and Lieberman, for example needs defending.

I've never seen any national Republican campaign on behalf of Diane Irey or Michael Steele. Just more proof that the RNC is just the socialist lite side of the DNC.

[4yearlurker]

Swann is a very intelligent and articulate speaker. That is his problem. When Fast Eddie gives a speech and says he is going to raise taxes on corporations if reelected,and the Union bums in the crowd cheer him that says it all.

[WakeUpAndVote]

This is just another attempt to tell Conservative voters NOT TO COME OUT AND VOTE on November 7th. A GOP candidate will never win if the dems convince the opposition not to even bother voting.

[MinuteGal]

"They screwed Toomey and now Irey"

Add conservative Katherine Harris to the list.

I've never in my life been praying harder for the orphaned underdogs to win.

The RNC hasn't had my regular contributions for two years now. Looks like it'll be another two years.

My money goes directly to conservative lepers.

Leni

[mewzilla]

Harvery Whittemore donated to Bob Casey. That should be worth a look.

[Nav_Mom]

Same with me.
Every time I get a phone call from the RNC for donations, I simply tell them that my political dollar is "earmarked" for Conservatives not the Jellyfish GOP slush fund.

[Truth is a Weapon]

Well, I for one just sent some money to Santorum. He is a good guy and we Republicans should not abandon him just because the party is being selective where they spend their resources. Rick is an asset to the party. Let's help him.

I am from Oklahoma and we don't have a senator in the race this year. But we do have two great, conservative senators.

[lasereye]

How often have people gotten elected to a position like Gov. or Senate on their first run for elective office, other than billionaire businessmen? Reagan comes to mind but he was exceptional. Swann should have run for something lower first.

[bmwcyle]

The GOP insiders are corrupt in PA.

[massadvj]

Swann's campaign hasn't picked up much steam, that's for sure. Rendell has been all over the airwaves for weeks, while Swann is just getting his message out with limited funds. He has worked very hard. I have personally attended two fundraisers for Swann, and he is very articulate and hard-working. But no traction, at least not yet.

Santorum is a bigger problem. How on earth he could be double digits behind a lame-brain like Casey is hard to believe. A lot of right wingers are still mad at Santorum for his Toomey backstab but we'll hold our noses and support him. Casey is running on his family legacy, and Santorum is out of step politically with a lot of moderates and independents, even if they like him personally.

I think Pennsylvania, with its two mega cities Pittsburgh and Philly, is firmly a northeastern blue state, and no amount of Republican campaigning will alleviate that problem. We'll elect RINO's like Sp-rectum, but true conservatives have no hope here.

I don't think Rendell is beatable. He has too much corporate and business support in the state.

It's too bad, because there are a lot of Family-oriented, second-amendment loving, deer killing Christians here in the center part of the state, but we are so vastly outnumbered we have no voice beyond our local areas.

[Antoninus]

If the GOP nationals won't support these candidates, then it's up to us to do so on the grass-roots level.

I'll never give another dime to the RNC or any other national Republican group.

I'm right this minute going over to Santorum's website to drop $100.00 on him.

I encourage others to do likewise.

http://www.ricksantorum.com/