Tom Wolf’s campaign won an influential Lehigh Valley endorsement today from one of its longest-serving public officials.

John Morganelli, who has served as Northampton District Attorney for 22 years, announced that he is supporting Tom Wolf for Governor.

“Nothing is more important for our state in 2014 than defeating Tom Corbett,” Morganelli stated. “We are fortunate to have many great Democratic candidates any of which would be a credit to our state. I believe, however, that Tom Wolf stands out in this distinguished field, and today I am proud to endorse him.

Morganelli is perhaps best known statewide as the 2008 Democratic nominee for Attorney General (his opponent was then-AG Tom Corbett). He is also a past President of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association. Morganelli considered running for Lt. Governor last year before opting to sit the race out.

Perhaps the most surprising and significant aspect of this development, however, is that it represents a breach of the Wolf campaign into the Lehigh Valley, a territory that Rob McCord has been trying to shore up since he received the backing of Allentown Mayor and former Gov. candidate Ed Pawlowski.

Last week for instance, McCord picked up the endorsements of State Rep. McNeill (D-Lehigh) and Schlossberg (D-Lehigh)

This just goes to show that in a race as competitive as the Democratic gubernatorial primary has become, no area of the state is safe for any candidate.