BREAKING: Specter Changing Parties
Sources tell Hotline that Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), who faces a primary challenge from the right and has seen his poll numbers erode of late, will announce today that he is switching parties.
Specter was one of three Republicans to back Pres. Obama's economic stimulus plan. And while the NRSC's chairman, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), has said Specter will have the committee's full support, challenger Pat Toomey, former president of the Club for Growth, could weaken him en route to the general election.
Elected in 1980, Specter is reacting to the changing reality of his state's political climate. PA has a Democratic governor and Sen. Bob Casey (D) holds the other seat. PA also backed Barack Obama over Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) last year.
If Specter abandons the GOP, he'll give the Dems a 60-vote filibuster proof majority in the Senate, once Democrat Al Franken, who appears to have won the MN Senate contest, is seated.
Another source tells us that Specter notified Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) yesterday of his decision.
I guess deep down, snarlin' Arlen is STILL working for Republicans in exactly the same way in which he has been working for us for so long now---once a dirty turncoat........ He is the perfect reason for term limits
All term limits ever did was make lobbyists stronger--trust me in that, I've been one.
My wife and called to tell me this news and, as she spoke to me I had on "The Times They Are A Changing."
I'd change if I was him, too.
Wayne Morse--an old timey R Senator from Oregon did the same thing long ago and went on to become one of two members of the Senate to vote against the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
Specter's move shows that the R's have moved their whole party so far to the right that moderate Republicans can no longer, with integrity, be part of it. Specter may not be on the left wing of his new party but he belongs. Check his record and growing discomfort.
Nixon couldn't be a Republic, today.
Welcome aboard, Senator Specter.
He's been a moderate for the GOP and tried for so long to project that image. The party left him, he hasn't left the party.
Bye bye Arlen... don't let the door hit you on the way out. He's always been a democrat at heart. Another politician only interested in maintaining power.