Former Steeler turns candidate

PITTSBURGH — In nine seasons as a wide receiver here, Lynn Swann helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win four Super Bowls by outjumping defenders for touchdowns.

But for the Hall of Famer, 53, the most daring leap of his career may be the one he took Wednesday.

Swann faces three other candidates in seeking the Republican nomination for governor — his first run for political office. The winner of the May 16 primary likely would face Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, who is expected to seek a second four-year term.

If successful in his first bid for political office, Swann would become Pennsylvania's first black governor.

Only one African American has been elected a state governor: L. Douglas Wilder, who served as Virginia's chief executive from 1990 to 1994.

Swann's announcement was no surprise: His political committee has been raising money for his campaign for nearly a year.

Swann, 53, has worked for ABC Sports since his retirement from football in 1983. Rendell moonlights as a Philadelphia Eagles postgame analyst for Comcast SportsNet in Philadelphia.

Swann said Wednesday that he hopes to convince blacks that he is a better candidate than Rendell, the former Philadelphia mayor.

The Democratic Party has "taken the African-American vote for granted," Swann said.

Swann has revealed little about his political philosophy but favors reducing certain business taxes and opposes abortion rights.

In independent polling, former Lt. Gov. William Scranton III and Swann are running ahead of the other two GOP candidates, but behind Rendell. A Keystone Poll in November showed Swann is running neck and neck with Scranton, who served eight years as the state's lieutenant governor. His father, William, is a former governor.

G. Terry Madonna, who runs the Keystone Poll and is a professor at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, said Swann could benefit from disenchantment with the state and national governments. "Voters are looking for fresh faces," Madonna said. Swann "has a personal story to tell that's compelling."

Before jumping into the race, Swann said, he consulted with several other sports figures-turned-politicians. Among them: U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne, a former University of Nebraska football coach.