In last week of Pa. attorney general race, Murphy launches negative ad at Kane

On Tuesday, Pennsylvania voters head to the polls for the primary election. Democrats will decide between two candidates for state attorney general. As the race heats up, one of the candidates in that race is going negative.

In his quest to become the Democratic candidate for attorney general, Patrick Murphy has attempted to peg opponent Kathleen Kane as anti-union with ties to Pennsylvania’s Republican governor:

“She’s been in politics — but not on our side. She supported Republican after Republican — even donating to Tom Corbett,” intones the ad. ” ‘I did write a check to Tom Corbett,’ says a recording of Kane. ‘I did write a check to Tom Corbett.’ “

With the election just days away, political and advertising consultant Elliot Curson said the attacks aren’t surprising.

“The best thing Patrick Murphy can do at this point is go negative — if he senses he’s behind or he’s losing momentum. He knows he’s up against a well-heeled candidate with some strong endorsements,” Curson said. President Clinton has endorsed Kane and, says Curson, the former president “is popular in this area.”

Murphy “has to do it — he doesn’t have a choice,” said Curson of the negative ad.

A Kane spokesman called the attack disingenuous. He said that while Kane contributed to Corbett a few years ago, a host of Democratic supporters did the same.

Among their many endorsements, Kane received the nod from Philadelphia’s two major daily newspapers — while Murphy has the backing of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police.