PA-04: Lynn Swann for Congress?

Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Lynn Swann got creamed in last year's Governor's race in Pennsylvania. Swann held his own in Western Pennsylvania, but lost most of Eastern Pennsylvania, where the Steelers aren't a big thing, in a landslide.

So now is Swann thinking of running for Congress in Steeler country?

The Pennsylvania 4th Congressional District (see map below,) is a swing district, with a slight Republican lean over the last decade. It was held by Democrat Ron Klink until 2000 and then conservative Republican Melissa Hart until she was defeated by a surprising large 10,000 vote margin against Democrat Jason Altmire last November.

An Altmire-Swann race would be interesting, and would rake in a lot of money, but Swann lost the district in the 2006 Gubernatorial race, Altmire is the incumbent and it doesn't look like it's going to be a better Republican year.

Even They Have Blogs...Kudos!

Just how important have blogs become in the political media world? Even the people they cover have their own blogs now.

Here in Pittsburgh, the city's top newspaper, the Post-Gazette is hosting a blog by Freshman Congressman Jason Altmire. Altmire, a Democrat, defeated Republican incumbent Melissa Hart 52%-48% in an upset win last November in a district that includes the Northern and Western suburbs of Pittsburgh. Altmire took office in January and has been keeping his constituents updated on his progress through The Freshman Class, the Congressman's blog on the Post-Gazette website.

Now, about 10 days ago I praised two other Freshman Democrats on Capital Hill; Montana Senator Jon Tester and New York Representative Kirsten Gillibrand, for posting their schedules online so their constituents can see what the people they elected to represent them in this democratic government were doing to improve and protect their lives. Congressman Altmire's blog strikes me as another example of a Representative reaching out to his or her people who have lost faith in their government. Altmire's victory is no doubt due in part of that loss of faith. The people of Pennsylvania's Fourth District gave Altmire a 10,000 vote margin victory for a reason; to change things. This is a welcome change and it is good to see a member of Congress keeping the people informed. In reading the blog, I see both a policy setter and a man from Pennsylvania. He gives a small piece of his schedule to his constituents, and talks about his family life (i.e. walking his daughter's to the bus stop, spending time with family before heading to Washington).

Congressman Jason Altmire (D-Pennsylvania) gets the nod as Political Hero of the Week....even though it's Monday. I'm just that impressed at the new Gentleman from Pennsylvania and the way the new Democratic majority is reaching out to the people who have given up on their government.

More from Pittsburgh in the morning.