Pete DeCoursey and
Carrie Budoff report today on the first stop of Lynn Swann's quasi-listening tour at the Westmoreland County Republican Dinner as he gears up for a likely Republican gubernatorial run.
Bottom line: the chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports doesn't really know what he believes, yet:
Swann said last night that campaigning for President Bush last year piqued his interest in public office, but he provided few clues as to what issues he might run on. He called himself a conservative, but declined to say where he stood on gun control and taxes, and at first would not offer his view on abortion. "Until I decide to step out and run for a position, I don't think it is necessary for me to go out and take a particular position," he said.
Several minutes later, he returned to tell reporters that he unequivocally opposed abortion rights.
"I wasn't supposed to be born," Swann said, because his father wanted only two children. But his mother pushed for a third child, and "I was born," he said. "That's enough for me to be pro-life."
Former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton and Sen. Majority Leader Jeff Piccola are also expected to run for the right to lose to Ed Rendell in 2006.