Former Congresswoman/NYC Comptroller Liz Holtzman, who flirted with a statewide campaign for AG earlier this uear and then declined to endorse the lone woman in the race, Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice, when she decided against running herself, has decided to support Rice after all.

“District Attorney Rice has the real, practical legal experience it will take to do this job,” said Holtzman in a statement released by Rice’s campaign.

“Kathleen Rice challenged the status quo to become Nassau County’s first woman district attorney and she’s proven that she has the toughness to do that job well. Kathleen Rice has the determination, the grit and the experience to be a fine attorney general.”

“I know she will fight corruption, and for women’s rights and civil rights. I am very pleased to endorse her.”

Rice now has the support of two erstwhile AG candidates who were poised to challenge her status as the only woman in the five-person field of Democrats vying to replace Andrew Cuomo as the state’s top attorney.

Denise O’Donnell, Gov. David Paterson’s ex-criminal justice services commissioner, also backed Rice when she decided not to run herself.

Holtzman was the first, and so far only, woman to hold the post of NYC comptroller. She also was the first woman Brooklyn DA – a post she held for two terms. (Recall that Rice got her start in that office, although her effectiveness during her tenure there has been called into question).

Interesting aside: Holtzman is the second prominent Democrat to come off the fence and endorse Rice in as many days. (The other was NYC Comptroller John Liu, who had previously been leaning toward backing Sen. Eric Schneiderman and admitted that Cuomo had asked him to keep his powder dry in the primary).

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