HARRISBURG -- Republican state Sen. Bob Jubelirer first noticed something special about ex-Steeler Lynn Swann in the fall of 2004, talking to him at the Republican National Convention in New York City and then watching him campaign for President Bush.

"My aide Mike Long and I met with Lynn in Sewickley that September and talked to him about political issues for about 90 minutes,'' Mr. Jubelirer recounted yesterday, just after the Republican State Committee unanimously and enthusiastically endorsed Mr. Swann for governor.

"He said he was interested in running for governor in 2006, and I thought, 'This guy could really generate enormous excitement. He's Ed Rendell's worst nightmare'.''

More than 250 members of the GOP state committee thought the same thing, as they stood for five minutes and cheered as Mr. Swann, 53, former Steelers wide receiver and ABC football broadcaster, was crowned as their candidate to run against Gov. Ed Rendell, a first-term Democrat.

Mr. Swann still has to defeat his only remaining Republican challenger, former Lebanon County businessman Jim Panyard, in the May 16 primary, but most politicians think that should be an easy win for Mr. Swann. Two other GOP challengers, former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton and state Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, have already bowed out of the gubernatorial race.

Also yesterday, the GOP state committee endorsed Jim Matthews, a Montgomery County commissioner and ex-real estate broker, to be its candidate for lieutenant governor.

Mr. Matthews, 56, said most people refer to him, accurately, as "Chris Matthews' brother,'' referring the MSNBC political commentator.

Now, Mr. Matthews joked, "They can refer to me as Lynn Swann's running mate.''

If Mr. Swann, who lives in Sewickley, wins the primary, it will set up a high-profile contest of west vs. east, former Steelers player vs. current Philadelphia Eagles football commentator, and popular political outsider vs. savvy political insider.

Mr. Rendell is the former mayor and district attorney in Philadelphia and has been involved in politics for 30 years. This is Mr. Swann's first foray into politics. Mr. Rendell is also a studio commentator on Comcast after Eagles games.

Allegheny County Councilwoman Jan Rea, who also first noticed Mr. Swann in the fall of 2004 when he was stumping for President Bush, was among those excited about Mr. Swann's candidacy.

As a gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Swann "is more than anyone could have expected,'' said Mrs. Rea, who was an early backer of his.

"I saw the way crowds reacted to him in 2004,'' she said. "There was an instant response to him. He had that charisma. He's a powerful leader.''

Strains of the song "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours'' filled the Harrisburg Hilton ballroom after the endorsement, as Mr. Swann and his wife, Charena, posed for pictures with their sons, Shafer, 9, and Braxton, 8.

GOP State Chairwoman Eileen Melvin said, "We're going to make history this year'' by ousting an incumbent governor. Since the state constitution was changed in 1968 to let governors seek a second term, no incumbent has lost.

As to Mr. Swann's celebrity status and his challenge to a Democratic incumbent, Mrs. Melvin said Republican Ronald Reagan defeated one-term Democratic President Jimmy Carter in 1980 and Mr. Swann will do the same thing this year.

As he took the podium to speak to the adoring crowd, Mr. Swann breathed deeply a couple of times and wiped a couple of tears from his eyes.

"I didn't expect to be this emotional,'' he said, thanking his parents, who weren't there, and his wife, who grew up in Chambersburg. The two met after he had retired from football.

"I haven't cried this much since I was inducted into the (pro football) hall of fame,'' he said.

He urged the party to unite behind him and Mr. Matthews "as the best team to unseat Ed Rendell.''

He attacked the incumbent Democrat for raising the personal income tax from 2.8 percent to 3.07 percent in January 2004, and said Mr. Rendell has failed to deliver on his 2002 campaign promise for lower property taxes.

"The cost of birth certificates has gone up and so has the cost of death certificates. And under Ed Rendell, the cost of life in between is just too damn expensive,'' Mr. Swann jibed.

Without giving details, he pledged to lower business taxes in Pennsylvania to help companies grow and create jobs.

Mr. Swann has been criticized for not participating in debates with his GOP competitors and being slow to unveil details of how he would cut state spending to make up for the lower taxes he promises.

But Swann campaign supporters have pledged that the details of his campaign will become clear in the upcoming weeks.

"He's an outsider in Harrisburg,'' Mrs. Rea said. "He's his own man. Nobody owns him. He'll think outside the box on issues.''