Former Steeler Lynn Swann, a black Republican, is filing papers to explore a run for governor.
http://www.thewgalchannel.com/politics/4228459/detail.html
From the story...
Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Lynn Swann has filed papers forming a campaign committee, his first official step toward a possible 2006 bid for governor.
The filing by Swann, a Republican, allows him to begin raising money. He filed the papers Wednesday, on the eve of his first public speech as a potential candidate -- at a Westmoreland County Republican dinner.
I posted a poll last week showing that Swann trails Gov. Ed Rendell by 16 points in a hypothetical matchup. But Rendell's popularity isn't historic, and his victory strategy depends on a huge vote from Pittsburgh.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/17/92110/1392
Clearly, the GOP is cultivating Swann (he appeared with Bush in PA rallies last year) in the hopes he'll be a black, more-conservative Schwarznegger. If he wins over the ultra-conservative GOP primary base, he can become the candidate. And if he beats Rendell, he's an overnight GOP powerhouse.