Not to say I told you so but . . .

U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan announced today he is stepping down as the top federal prosecutor for the eastern part of Pennsylvania to position himself for a possible run for governor in 2010.

Meehan, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Pa.) and former Delaware County District Attorney, will hold a news conference this afternoon to formally announce his resignation.

"He has an ideal profile for that position (governor)," said Shanin Specter, a pre-eminent lawyer, Republican strategist and son of Specter. "Many prosecutors have advanced to important statewide office, both in Pennsylvania and elsewhere."

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080707_U_S__Attorney_Pat_M...

Question, who other than Knox is running on the D side?

Also I wonder if rumors are true, how a prosecution by Meehan's replacement of Knox's big supporter for mayor will play with Knox's gubernatorial ambitions?
-Sean
MrLuigi, my cat, actually only types half as badly as I do.

Dan Onorato, Chief Executive of Allegheny County is an early favorite for the Democrats for Governor in 2010.

Another Loyal Bushie bites the dust. Color me impressed.

Or not,
-Z

Our mayor

Mayor Nutter today learned from reporters after a City Hall press conference that U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan had announced his resignation. The mayor called the news "kind of stunning" and a loss for the city. While putting together his administration earlier this year, Nutter called on three former Meehan staffers to take appointed posts. A fourth former Meehan staffer helped sort out the mess that was the non-profit Safe and Sound.

"He has been a true presence, a force, but also a person with great credibility," Nutter said, adding that Meehan, "Helped to restore some sense of integrity and credibility to this city government. I appreciate all his work."

-Sean
MrLuigi, my cat, actually only types half as badly as I do.

From the DN

"He's not the person I'd want to be running against," said Larry Ceisler.

"He's a good candidate, he understands the political process, he has the resume and he's not going to come across as a right-wing ideologue," Ceisler said.

Meehan headed U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's re-election campaign in 1992 and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's 1994 upset Senate victory.

Specter said in a statement yesterday that Meehan had established himself as "one of the best" in a long line of distinguished U.S. attorneys here.

Another political analyst, G. Terry Madonna, of Franklin & Marshall College, in Lancaster, said that Meehan's Delaware County roots also make him a formidable candidate.

"If you want to win the governorship and you're a Republican, you have to stop the hemorrhaging of votes in the southeast," Madonna said. "You have to win the Philly 'burbs to be successful."

Ceisler speculated that one of the reasons that Meehan is resigning now and not at the end of the year - just as Fumo's corruption trial is expected to be winding down - is the sensitivity of his political antennae.

"He's leaving now because he didn't want to come off the Fumo trial and then announce for governor," Ceisler said. "He can take the high road and leave now and make a clean break."

Meehan was sworn in as U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Pennsylvania six days after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, and he is the second-longest-serving top federal prosecutor in the region.

Former colleagues said that one of Meehan's strengths was in not politicizing the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"His marching orders to the career people were to follow the facts wherever they lead, and he would back us up," said Mike Schwartz, who headed the office's public-corruption unit from 2002 until February, when he left for private practice.

And about that "acting" replacement, Laura Magid, the first woman US Attorney.
-Sean
MrLuigi, my cat, actually only types half as badly as I do.