Tuesday, January 24, 2006
When Football And Politics Collide...Since Dr. Masse has got us in a sporting mood today, allow me to infuse a political post with some football-related themes.
I have two big questions:
1.) Will Pennsylvania's Governor Ed Rendell be placing a Super Bowl bet with Washington's Governor Christine Gregoire? Ed's an Eagles fan, so placing a bet on the Steelers has to be a little awkward on his part.
I know he just won an AFC Championship wager with Colorado's Governor Bill Owens, but come on, this is the Super Bowl. Last year at this time, Ed was proudly representing the Eagles against Gov. Mitt Romney in the big game.
2.) Will this Steelers championship run improve Lynn Swann's chances in the Republican primary for Governor?
It seems to me that Jerome Bettis is at his zenith of popularity in the Pittsburgh area. He's also a Republican. If the Steelers ride The Bus to a Super Bowl victory (and probably even if they don't), Bettis could be a huge asset to his fellow Steeler's campaign, should he decide to support Swann.
I say Swann is an outside shot at best to win the GOP primary against the more experienced Bill Scranton, a former Pennsylvania lieutenant governor. Even if Swann did move on to the general election against the aforementioned Ed Rendell, his lack of experience in politics would be evident against the likeable and seasoned campaigner, Rendell.
Couple that with Rendell's solid block of bipartisan support in Philadelphia and its suburbs, which will only become more solid if a Pittsburgh hero is on the other side of the ticket, Swann may need a lot more than The Bus to become the next Governor of Pennsylvania...
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