McCaffery Bring Out The Big Guns

Dan McCaffery made his bid for state Attorney General official today with a City Hall event that featured endorsements from a daunting rosters of political elites and power brokers.

The speakers included Congressman Bob Brady, the city's Democratic party boss, deep-pocketed labor leader John J. Dougherty and Rev. Terrence Griffith, president of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia.

McCaffery, a trial lawyer and brother of Seamus McCaffery, the Eagles judge turned Supreme Court justice, ran unsuccessfully for District Attorney in 2009.

McCaffery told his audience why he wanted to seek a stressful job that would require him to take a pay cut.

"I think is someone like me doesn't step up and run for this office, what are we left with as elected officials," he said.

If the race were decided by Philadelphia democrats, McCaffery would be a sure thing. Unfortunately, no Democrat has ever been elected to the position.

McCaffery also faces competition inside the party.

Just minutes before his 1 p.m. event, a news release arrived in Heard's in-box from the campaign of Democratic candidate Kathleen G. Kane. The released boasted that the former Lackawanna County prosecutor ended 2011 with a $2 million campaign war chest and called her "the statewide Democrat with the profile who can best win in November."

Also today, U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz announced her endorsement of Democrat Patrick Murphy for attorney general, calling the Iraq war veteran "a proven leader."

Click herefor Philly.com's politics page.