Lynn Swann tackles Ed Rendell

GOP challenger Lynn Swann streaks past Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell in first debate



By pennpatriot

If tonight's debate was an actual football game, Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann would have been named the player of the game. The fact is Swann had a very surprising Superbowl like debate performance against a very tough, seasoned political veteran.

Swann entered tonight's gubenatorial debate with an offensive campaign strategy that seemed to dazzle everyone watching even the lengendary Ed Rendell. Swann seemed more youthful, speedy and energized while Rendell seemed frustrated and slow on his feet. Any objective viewer of the debate must conclude that Lynn Swann's performance was superior to that of Ed Rendell.

There were so many positive for Swann.

Coming into the debate many Pennsylvnania media types and political pundits questioned whether or not Swann would be able to demonstrate a "comand of the issues" that face Pennsylvania. Tonight Swann answered those questions and more.

Not only did Swann demonstrate a command of the issues, he even seemed more comfortable debating them than our three year, incumbent Governor. During the debate Swann even caught Rendell using his own tax cut numbers to criticize Swann's plan to cut business taxes.

For being a political newcomer Swann was unusually calm and poised during the debate. He was confident. And in my opinion, I think Swann actually may have benefited from debating Rendell on his home field of Pittsburgh. Swann had his game face on and Rendell looked like he was washed up.

Furthermore, something very important happened during tonights debate that will make things very interesting in this race. If you are a voter desperately trying to find a candidate that is focused on change and reforming Pennsylvania, Lynn Swann came across as the clear choice.

Swann invoke the Commonwealth Foundation several times when responding to questions and hammered Rendell for signing the pay raise. Swanns property tax reform proposal and tax cut plans seemed to make sense while Rendell was stuck defending a record that as Swann said, "hasn't produced results".


Early poll results agree:

At 9:10 PM, A KDKA website poll indicates that 71% of viewers think Lynn Swann won the debate.

Check out the latest poll results @ www.kdka.com

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