The Republican State Committee has unanimously voted to endorse pro-football Hall of Famer Lynn Swann for governor of Pennsylvania.
Swann's bid went unopposed after his main opponent, former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton, withdrew from the race last Tuesday.
Swann currently has one challenger in the Republican primary, businessman Jim Paynard, who did not seek a party endorsement.
Swann's status as a national football figure has been a boost to his campaign, especially after his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, secured this year's Super Bowl championship, campaign officials said.
"He came in with name ID and that's important against a candidate with a considerable war chest," Swann spokeswoman Melissa Walters said.
But challengers from both parties have used Swann's image as a former football star to depict him as politically inexperienced.
So have political groups at Penn.
"Playing football is not the same as governing Pennsylvania," Penn Democrats Director of Political Outreach Nathan Davis said. "He's not qualified."
For this reason, Swann supporters are trying to shift attention away from his status as a sports figure.
"It certainly doesn't hurt that he's a former broadcaster," said Sean-Tamba Matthew, vice chairman of the College Republicans. "But the greatest thing about Lynn Swann is that he's a morally upstanding person."
Swann was Chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and served on the executive boards of the H.J. Heinz and Hershey companies and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. He has never held an elected office.
Nearly two years away from the 2008 election, Swann has yet to define a platform but has consistently said that state officials need to boost the economy by reducing property taxes and government spending.
"He seems to be a pretty conservative guy," Matthew said. "He's focusing on revolutionizing the economy, and lowering taxes is a pretty major part of that."
Republican supporters are hoping the fact that Swann is black will put a dent in incumbent Gov. Ed Rendell's traditionally strong support among black voters.
He can "get African-American votes," said Penn Political Science professor Jack Nagel, "but if he goes too far to the right, he will lose them."
"This could be a big year for Republican blacks," Matthew said.
The Republican Party currently has black candidates running for several major offices, including a Michigan U.S. Senate seat and the Ohio governorship.
Swann's choice for lieutenant governor, Montgomery County Commissioner Jim Matthews, was also given the party's endorsement Saturday.
