OLYMPIA -- Washington's Republican attorney general Rob McKenna seems to be taking a lead from his Missouri Democratic counterpart Jay Nixon these days.

McKenna today joined officials from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and other lawmakers to urge the Washington state legislature to pass credit-freeze legislation.

Such a freeze prevents identity-thieves from accessing their victims' personal credit reports. A recent AARP survey of Washington consumers showed that 85 percent support such legislation and 79 percent would sign up for such a service.

"Credit freeze legislation is necessary to help Washington residents protect themselves from the snowballing threat of identity theft," McKenna said today.

Twenty three states have already enacted security-freeze laws, he pointed out.

McKenna is widely considered to be angling for a run at the governor's office sometime in the next two election cycles. Commentators say he, like Missouri attorney general Jay Nixon, is using his office to attack unpopular targets and appeal to key electoral sectors like the elderly.

Nixon yesterday launched multiple legal actions against "foreign lottery scammers" that he claimed were "targeting Missouri seniors." He has already declared for the Democratic nomination for Missouri governor in 2008 and observers think he will likely win it all.