The AP's Larry McShane provides a good look into this coming Tuesday's primary in which New York City's Democratic voters will choose their nominee to serve as District Attorney (click here for information on the Democratic mayoral primary, which will also be held this Tuesday). And as McShane notes, the winner of the Democratic primary is almost assured of winning the spot in November, so this is an important vote to watch.

How old is too old? And how long is too long?

n the case of 86-year-old Manhattan district attorney Robert Morgenthau — in office since 1974 — the answers come Tuesday, when his re-election campaign goes to the voters in a Democratic primary.

For the first time in 20 years, Morgenthau faced a real challenger with a real chance to win: Leslie Crocker Snyder, 63, a no-nonsense ex-judge who raised the incumbent's age and tenure as campaign issues.

[...]

The campaign reached at times into the fictional DA's office of "Law and Order." Snyder, in a television ad, pointed out that the television show had three district attorneys during its 17 years on NBC.

The real office had just one: Morgenthau, the model for the first TV prosecutor, Adam Schiff. Snyder herself has appeared on the program as a judge.

For more on the race, check out Jeffrey Toobin's masterful piece in a May issue of The New Yorker. And if you're a "Law & Order" fan like this blogger, check out the complete first season or the complete third season of the series, a particular favorite.