NYT: A Pennsylvania Spoiler Joins Race for Governor

[DeepModem Mom]

A Pennsylvania Spoiler Joins Race for Governor
By IAN URBINA
Published: April 13, 2006

ALTOONA, Pa., April 11 — In what was already proving a surprisingly tight contest, the race for governor of Pennsylvania has grown more complicated with the entry of an independent candidate who helped spearhead a grass-roots insurgency last year against the state legislature.

The development is the latest twist in a campaign where the Democratic incumbent, Edward G. Rendell, once considered a shoo-in for re-election, has been polling neck and neck with his Republican challenger, the former football star Lynn Swann, a political newcomer.

The latest arrival in the race is Russ Diamond, a businessman who last July founded PACleanSweep, a political action committee born of voter outrage after legislators approved a controversial raise for themselves....

***

Some pollsters say Mr. Diamond, who must still gather 67,000 signatures by Aug. 1 to get on the ballot, would be more likely to pull votes from Mr. Swann than from Mr. Rendell because PACleanSweep has its deepest roots among Republicans.

But Dr. Madonna said Mr. Diamond could damage either of the other candidates. "It's shocking," he said, "but Diamond could really serve as a potential spoiler."...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/13/us/13penn.html

[wisteria]

1. I hope Mr Diamond doesn't get his signatures!

He accomplished something, hit a nerve so to speak, so now he thinks he is qualified to be Governor of PA?

[oasis]

2. Lynn Swann is already "spoiled". He had his head up Chimpy's ass all

through the 2004 presidential campaign. Rendell should run clips of of Swann swooning over the Chimperor.

[Demit]

3. Interesting-- "Five members of PACleanSweep's board resigned

in March upon learning of his ambition to be governor, saying was trying to hijack the insurgency for his own gain."

I doubt he'll be much of a factor. His own buds don't trust him.

[napi21]

4. PAClean Sweep is to sweep out ALL incumbants.

Time will tell, but I'm not sure he'll pull many votes from any one party. If you check their web site http://www.pacleansweep.com/strategy.html they have one interesting "victory strategy". They're suggesting Reverse gerrymandering by switching Party registration.