Auditor General Jack Wagner, whose home turf is in western Pennsylvania where the Attorney General primary will likely be won or lost, endorsed Kathleen Kane this afternoon. Patrick Murphy picked up the endorsement of Armstrong County District Attorney Scott Andreassi and Sheriff Larry Crawford. Murphy also announced a rally hosted by Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto. The two main Philadelphia newspapers endorsed Kane while the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette endorsed Murphy.
The Kane campaign said that the Wagner endorsement was further proof that the momentum has shifted in her favor. The campaign said, “[the endorsement] comes within a week of the momentum-shifting endorsement of Kane by President Bill Clinton, as well as the editorial board endorsements of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News. In response to Kathleen Kane’s surge, the campaign of former Congressman Patrick Murphy has launched two false, negative and misleading TV ads against her within the past week.”
Wagner made the endorsement official at an event in downtown Pittsburgh.
DA Andreassi said of Murphy, “An Iraq war veteran who has prosecuted terrorists overseas and put dangerous criminals behind bars here at home, Patrick Murphy is a dedicated public servant who has been tested under the most difficult circumstances. Patrick is a proven leader with the experience and determination to keep our families safe. I know that he will be the partner we need in the Attorney General’s office and I look forward to working with him to fight crime here in Armstrong County.”
DA Andreassi made note of Murphy’s prosecution experience which the Kane camp has used as a point of contention saying that Patrick Murphy has never tried a case in the commonwealth of Pa. Patrick Murphy recently released an ad which chronicled the prosecution experience he has.
Councilman Peduto said that Murphy, “has proven that he has both progressive values and the courage to back them up. He’s demonstrated a willingness to take a stand on issues that matter to us – even in the face of daunting opposition.”
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14 Responses
Murphy has no prosecutorial experience. He wilol get pummeled in the gneral election. Kane is the better candidate. The snow storm in western PA could end up winning this for Murphy.
Kane has lied about her record.
What else has she lied about?
I don’t want a liar for AG.
In each case that pleas out, the DA must put on the record a factual basis for why the judge should accept the plea – perhaps not as dramatic as a closing argument in a jury trial, but it must satisfy the requirement that the DA establish that the conviction is valid. That’s something Kane has actually done – thousands of times – and something Murphy has not. Kane’s 24 jury trials is a lot more than Murphy’s zero.
Sam S-
Maybe Murphy should take the PA bar exam before Tuesday.
We all know most cases settle. The problem is Kane is lying about her experience.
Kane said at her rally with Bill Clinton that she gave “thousands of closings.” You only give closings when you take cases to trial! She took two dozen cases to trial there is no way she gave thousands of closings. I don’t have a problem with settling cases. I have a problem with Kane lying about her experience.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/willow_grove/clinton-stumps-for-kane-in-montco/article_10b3c7d9-4d47-5297-8282-9245acf87a31.html
Sam S you are full of it. We all know that not all cases go to trial. She was lead prosecutor on many, co- prosecutor on many, and many are plea bargained or adjudicated before they even get to court. Her own boss, the DA in Lackawanna County said that 3,000 was actually under estimated. She actually did more. Either way, Murphy has tried ZERO. And this latest garbage out of Murphy’s camp shows how unqualified, deceitful, and desperate he is.
I am appalled that Kane has been lying about her experience. She claims to have prosecuted 3000 cases. But now she admits that she made the number up and she only prosecuted 24.
Wagner could sure teach Kane a thing or two about running a statewide camapign. That campaign for Governor was a real winner. But if he had her money, he would be Governor now.
Another SE pa dem takes a pounding in Swpa!!!
WB Dem, I couldn’t of said it any better. I agree Jack Wagner is a man of integrity.
Jack Wagner is a veteran and a man of integrity. It says alot that he has chosen to endorse Kathleen Kane in this race over fellow veteran Patrick Murphy. That speaks volumes about Kathleen Kane, her qualifications and integrity. She is the only clear choice for AG if the Democrats want to win in November. She is a prosecutor in Pennsylvania, not military courts. She has not gone into the mud like Murphy with attacks and misleading commercials. I want to see integrity in the AG office, not mudslinging and personal attacks.
Western PA values? Wow, I guess Murphy is more conservative than I thought.
Murphy couldn’t even hold his congressional seat. How can he hope to win statewide?
Murphy is part of the corrupt Philadelphia machine which is why the home town papers went against him. He is the last guy you want as Attorney General. Elect a woman and make history for Pennsylvania and a prosecutor who will pusue good government not protect political cronies .
Patrick Murphy actually understands Western PA values. He is pro-labor, tough as nails and a true fighter for the middle class.