The latest Zogby poll out for this week shows Swann cutting down Rendell’s double digit lead to 9.5% over the former Steeler. Coincidentally, the Swann campaign has finally started running TV ads over the past week so I’m sure that had something to do with it. With a little less than two months left until Election Day there is still plenty of time for Swann to pull off an upset win and be the first man in history to oust an incumbent Pennsylvania governor, but I still remain skeptical.

The most devastating piece of ammunition that Swann could be using has been left stored in the armoury. I am speaking of last year’s infamous pay raise, which resulted in 17 incumbent State legislators being ousted during the May primaries and another couple dozen State legislators retiring so that they would not have to face the wrath of the voters. Rendell supported and signed this pay raise, which was eventually repealed due to an onslaught of voter backlash, and yet, Swann has yet to open this gift from God.

The problem is he really can’t. He backed himself into a corner on this one. Not only did Swann continue to show his support for the Senate President and Senate Majority Leader, who orchestrated this pay raise, during their primaries (they both ended up being defeated in landslides by their more conservative challengers), Swann also stated publically that they should be able remain in their leadership positions until the end of the legislative session in December.

It is these types of blunders among others that I believe keeps Swann 10 points behind Rendell rather than 10 points up and sours his chances of having a historical win.