Topeka ? Johnson County Dist. Atty. Paul Morrison shook up Kansas politics today, announcing that he was joining the Democratic Party and will challenge state Atty. Gen. Phill Kline, a Republican, next year.

Morrison, a prosecutor for 25 years and district attorney for the past 15 years, said he was concerned about the competence and direction of the attorney general’s office under Kline, a conservative who has said he will seek re-election.

“As attorney general, I’ll insist we get that office back to the basics: safety, security and the kind of independent approach Kansans ought to be able to expect from the state’s chief law enforcement officer,” Morrison said.

Morrison said he was concerned over Kline’s pursuit of medical records from abortion clinics in what Kline, an opponent of abortion, has said is an investigation into allegations of child rape and illegal late term abortions.

Morrison said he supports abortion rights.

Republicans launched a quick response to Morrison’s announcement.

Republican Party Chairman Tim Shallenburger said Morrison “pulled a Benedict Arnold” and called him soft on crime.

Kline also called him soft on crime.

“I know he is frustrated for some time because I have opposed his efforts to let violent criminals back on our streets,” he said.

Kline was making reference to legislation adopted in 2000 that critics said allowed the early release of criminals. Supporters of the bill, including Morrison, said the bill alleviated prison crowding to make sure there was room in the prison system to hold violent criminals.

Shallenburger tied Morrison’s support of the bill to the early release of Reginald Carr from parole supervision. Carr was later convicted in the murders of five people in Wichita. The Kansas Department of Corrections has said that a clerical error led to Carr’s early release.

Morrison said he decided to switch parties because he felt Democrats were more focused on law and order issues and not divisive cultural issues.

But some observers noted Morrison would have had a tough time toppling the incumbent Kline in the Republican Party primary, which generally attracts more conservative Republicans.

Kansas Democratic Party Chairman Larry Gates welcomed Morrison.

“As Democrats, we admire Paul’s independent approach to leadership, his dedication to public safety and public service, and his clear vision of what an effective attorney general ought to be,” Gates said in a written statement.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, a Democrat whose district includes east Lawrence, said Morrison “will make an outstanding attorney general.”

Morrison worked as an assistant prosecutor under then-Johnson County Dist. Atty. Moore in the 1980s.

Senate Judiciary Chairman John Vratil predicted a race between Kline and Morrison would be close.

“I think the attorney general’s vulnerable, and Paul Morrison is an outstanding candidate,” Vratil, R-Leawood, said.

In 2002, Kline defeated then-Geary County Atty. Chris Biggs, a relative unknown in statewide politics, by fewer than 4,300 votes out of more than 821,000 cast.