Kane thumps Murphy for Dems’ attorney general nod

Kathleen Kane, a former assistant district attorney from Lackawanna County, has won the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania Attorney General. 

To gain her party’s nod, Kane defeated former congressman Patrick Murphy of Bucks County.  Murphy, an Iraq war veteran, was endorsed by former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, and by the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, whose offices hosted his melancholy election night event. Standing on stage with his family, Murphy conceded defeat, and thanked his supporters.  He called Kathleen Kane a fierce competitor and said, while he didn’t agree with her on everything, there was plenty they did see eye to eye on.  “Kathleen has talked with great passion about doing more to protect our children from sex abuse,” Murphy said.  “We both believe that consumer protection must be the cornerstone of this office.  And in the end no matter what our differences, Kathleen Kane and I know that Pennsylvania will be better off with a Democrat serving as Attorney General.”Kane, a Temple Law School grad who lives in Clarks Summit, was endorsed by former President Bill Clinton and by Philadelphia’s two major daily newspapers. In November, Kane faces Republican David Freed, who ran unopposed in the primary. Pennsylvania has never elected a Democrat as attorney general.

The attorney general oversees about 700 staffers and a budget of about $81 million.