PA-AG: Patrick Murphy Is Running

Where are they now? I’ll tell you where – on the campaign trail:

Former Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy is running for Attorney General, and he’s entering the race with broad support from party leaders. Former Democratic Chair T.J. Rooney, 2010 gubernatorial nominee Dan Onorato, and Congressmen Tim Holden, Jason Altmire and Chaka Fattah are endorsing his run, along with nearly a dozen state representatives and senators.

In a phone interview, Murphy said he’s running because, “The people of Pennsylvania need someone to stand up for them. … They need someone who’s going protect them against criminals on the street, from big special interests who prey against our most vulnerable, including seniors, and they need an outsider to Harrisburg who will root out corruption.”

“I spent my life fighting for people,” he said. “In the Army I prosecuted terrorists who tried to kill American soldiers. I tried criminals who broke the law, and I taught con law at West Point.” Murphy, who lost his seat to Republican Mike Fitzpatrick last year, was the first Iraq War veteran to serve in Congress.

You should click through the link and scroll down, because “yes that” Patrick Murphy’s endorsement list is seriously pimp. I usually don’t put a whole lot of stock in such things, but he has really wrapped up quite a chunk of the establishment right out of the gate. Former prosecutor Dan McCaffery, who unsuccessfully ran for Philly DA in 2009, is already in the race and has the backing of Rep. Bob Brady. Scranton prosecutor Kathleen Granahan Kane is also running. The election is next year.

48 thoughts on “PA-AG: Patrick Murphy Is Running”

  1. since it’s been an elected position. Murphy has the clout to raise the money he needs to compete.

    He’s great on basically all of the issues–except for immigration. And to the degree that last ounce of latino support matters, he might have a problem.

    1. But then, I’ve never lived in Montco.

      Assuming a W. PA Republican, it seems like the wisest course for the Democrat is to try and dominate the NEPA airwaves. Winning the Scranton market allows some headroom elsewhere.

    2. She does have an impressive pedigree, adn having 2 eastern PA pols go at it is always fun.  It would be a evry interesting race, I just don’t don’t know if she could flip so many Obama voters to vote for her.

      Montco voted for Obama by 90K votes and also supported the Dem nominee in 2008 by a very slim margin.  PA as a whole gave Obama a 600K vote cushion but Corbett won by over 400K so I guess AG is a definite vote splitter (though I don’t remebr much about the Dem nominee so maybe he was not great).

      One thing is for sure, Dems need to ensure that people who show up to vote for Obama vote in the down-ticket races.  Hundreds of thousands of under-votes in teh second tier races will be all the more important in a race like these.

    1. I don’t know much about her except in reading.  Wouldn’t be able to pick her out of a lineup.  But a female AG nominee from the Philly burbs tells you msot of what you need to know electorally.  

      Seems she has some decent accomplishments but I honestly don’t watch a lot of news so I have no idea what high profile cases she’s been involved with.

  2. PA seems to like people who have lost statewide races.  It’s like hazing.  Casey lost to Rendell, Specter lost a millon times, Toomey lost to Specter…

  3. Sad that we probably have to concede his seat in the House but oh well.  As others have said AG is the best jumping point for higher office, though I think being governor in 2018 is more likely than Senate in 2016.

  4. The redistricting process will be not favorable, then better bid for Attorney General. The office will be open in a presidential year. It is a good success in the recruitment efforts.

  5. The redistricting process will be not favorable, then better bid for Attorney General. The office will be open in a presidential year. It is a good success in the recruitment efforts.

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