Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed is leaning towards a run for the Republican nomination for Attorney General in 2012, according to a report published over the weekend by the Patriot News’ Charles Thompson.

Thompson reported on Sunday that Freed is in the “exploration phase” and said he “has not ruled it on or out.”

The story continues: “But other midstaters familiar with his planning believe Freed is leaning toward a statewide run, with a formal announcement to come at some point. Some cited as evidence a May dinner meeting with top local Republicans at which Freed floated the idea and gauged support.”

“‘Dave Freed is going to run, and he’ll be a great candidate,’ predicted Richard Stewart, a West Shore attorney who is co-chairman of the State Republican Committee’s South Central Caucus and was among those at the May meet-up.”

Thompson noted that Freed also has the advantage of being son-in-law to former Attorney General Leroy Zimmerman, who remains influential in GOP circles.  (The GOP has not lost an Attorney General race since Zimmerman beat Michael O’Pake in 1980.) 

Other potential Republican candidates include state Senator John Rafferty and Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman. 

Among the Democrats eyeing the position, former Congressman Patrick Murphy and former Lackawanna County prosecutor Kathleen Granahan Kane have declared their candidacies, while former Philadelphia prosecutor Dan McCaffery has told supporters he plans to launch his bid soon.