Kane
Clinton
WILLOW GROVE, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Former President Bill Clinton stumped for Pennsylvania attorney general candidate Kathleen Kane Thursday night.
According to Kane's campaign website, Clinton attended a "Get Out the Vote" rally for the former Lackawanna County prosecutor.
The event was held at Upper Moreland High School in Willow Grove, Montgomery County.
Kane, a Democrat, worked on now-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2008, USA Today reported. Clinton eventually lost the Democratic nomination to now-President Barack Obama.
In addition to his appearance, Kane also received the former president's endorsement.
"Kathleen Kane is the most experienced and qualified candidate to serve as Pennsylvania Attorney General," Clinton said in a statement.
"I am confident that Kathleen will use the legal system to protect and advance the lives of all Pennsylvanians. She is smart, tough and experienced, and she will make a great attorney general."
In a statement earlier this week, Kane said she appreciated Clinton's "incredible showing of support."
"Words cannot express my gratitude to President Clinton for his unwavering support," she said.
"President Clinton remains an enormously popular and influential world leader. Our campaign is incredibly energized by the president's support."
Meanwhile, earlier this week, it was reported that Obama's political strategist, David Axelrod, was stumping for Kane's Democratic opponent, former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy.
Also running to be the state's next top lawyer are Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed, who is unopposed for the GOP nomination, and Don Bailey, a former state auditor general and an independent.
All four are looking to replace current Attorney General Linda L. Kelly.
After former Attorney General Tom Corbett was sworn in as governor in January 2011, William H. Ryan became the acting attorney general.
Soon after, Corbett nominated Kelly to replace him.
Kelly, 61, was a prosecutor for more than 30 years, serving as both an assistant district attorney in Allegheny County and senior litigation counsel as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
She is Pennsylvania's first female attorney general since the office became an elected position in 1980.
Since then, Republicans have held the office.
Pennsylvania's primary election is April 24. The state's general election is Nov. 6.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.