Lynn Swann, the Hall of Fame former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, stood before a nearly all-white Republican crowd at the Holiday Inn here recently and denounced Pennsylvania's Democratic governor, Edward G. Rendell, for failing to reduce property taxes. Then, without prompting, Mr. Swann suddenly turned the subject to race - his own.
"I'm not here to be the poster child for the Republican Party, to say they're being inclusive by running an African-American," said Mr. Swann, 54. "That's not why I'm here. I'm here to win."
Still, to many prominent Republicans, Mr. Swann, a commentator for ABC Sports, is much more than a potentially strong contender for governor in 2006. He is, they hope, part of a new crop of prominent black candidates who could help the Republicans crack, if not break, Democratic domination among black voters in several important states.
In Maryland, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, black Republicans - all of whom have been groomed by the national party - are expected to run for governor or the United States Senate next year. Several other up-and-coming black Republicans are expected to run for lower statewide offices in Missouri, Ohio, Texas and Vermont in 2006.
The Republican activities are catching the Democrats' attention. "This is a very challenging moment for the Democrats," said Donna Brazile, chairwoman of the party's Voting Rights Institute and one of the Democrats' leading strategists on black voters. "For the first time in my history, they are in my community. And that's not a pleasant feeling."
Here in Pennsylvania, Mr. Swan has yet to declare his candidacy formally and has not explained his positions on many issues, but he has met with dozens of Republican leaders around the state, hired campaign staff and begun raising money.
At two events with Republican groups in western Pennsylvania in late June, Mr. Swann sounded very much the candidate, attacking Mr. Rendell as a weak leader and pledging to run a fiercely competitive race.
"We need to kick him out of office," he said of Mr. Rendell. He also provided insight into how he would run, saying he would take the fight to Mr. Rendell's base in southeastern Pennsylvania, including the heavily black precincts of Philadelphia.
"I think I can go into Philadelphia and I can get Republicans to vote Republican, go after the independent voter and then go after Democrats who cross over," Mr. Swann said.
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