Paterno quits LG race in Pennsylvania

Former Penn State assistant football coach Jay Paterno, son of the late beloved head coach, said Friday afternoon he was withdrawing from the race for the Democratic lieutenant-governor nomination.

He shook up the race on the strength of his name alone, but Paterno acknowledged that a legal challenge to the validity of signatures on his nominating petitions was likely to knock him off the ballot - or at least tie him up in court.

"In talking with attorneys it has become clear that the ballot challenge could be a long process with potential decisions and appeals carrying beyond Monday's hearing," Paterno said in a statement. "With less than two months remaining before the primary I do not want an ongoing legal back and forth to be a distraction in this race. The outcome of this election is too important for the future of the working families and all the people of this Commonwealth.