Specter: Prospects For Winning Were "Bleak"

Asserting that he had made a principled move not a political one, Sen. Arlen Specter (PA) told reporters today that his decision to become a Democrat stemmed from the realization that his "prospects for winning a Republican primary are bleak."

"I'm not prepared to have my 29 year record in the United States Senate decided by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate," Specter said.

Specter said he will not trade in his personal independence as he aligns with Democrats. And he said he will not be a rubber stamp for the leadership's agenda.

"I will not be an automatic sixtieth vote," he said, mentioning his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act as one example. He said he will not be swayed on the proposal, which makes it easier for unions to organize.

"I think it is a bad bill, and I'm opposed to it and would not vote to invoke cloture," Specter added.

He said, too, that he is opposed to using the budget reconciliation process for health care or any other substantive legislation, saying it would "undermine an important institutional prerogative of the Senate to require 60 votes on these complicated matters."

"I thought that," he said, "whether I would be a Republican or a Democrat."

Specter's announcement put the Democrats in shooting distance of a 60-vote filibuster proof majority if entertainer Al Franken emerges the victor in the ongoing MN SEN contest. Not unexpectedly, Specter drew a torrent of criticism from GOP colleagues, who suggested that Specter, facing a primary challenge from Pat Toomey, who until recently led the Club for Growth, was trading in his longtime political loyalty to win re-election next year.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) called the decision "the height of political self-preservation" and Chris Chocola, Club for Growth president, said the change only confirms that Specter, who backed Pres. Obama's economic bailout proposal, is "a liberal devoted to more spending, more bailouts, and less economic freedom."

"The situation in Pennsylvania highlights the dilemma facing the Republican Party," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). "Ideologically, we are a center-right party and I am committed to maintaining that position. However, for us to have national relevance we have to run and win in blue states. As a party we have to expand our base and diversify our membership while maintaining our fiscally conservative, limited government approach.

Graham added that Specter "puts a great deal of pressure on red-state Democratic Senators" whose "constituents will look to them to reject a far left-wing agenda."

Specter acknowledged the frustrations vented by GOP leaders. "This is a painful decision," he said. "I know that I am disappointing many of my friends and colleagues. Frankly, I am disappointed by some of the responses. So the disappointment runs in both directions."

Specter said he reached the determination at the urging of many Democrats, including VP Biden and PA Gov. Ed Rendell. Specter noted that he received polling information last week confirming his political troubles. He consulted with his wife, Joan, and their son and made the decision over the weekend.

He said that Republicans have let several of the party's more moderate members fall in recent years to primary challenges from the right or allowed them to fight weakened after bruising primary battles. He mentioned Wayne Gilchrest in MD, Joe Schwartz in MI and Heather Wilson in NM.

Even with the change, Specter said he hopes to maintain his committee seniority. And he said that he expects the Dem leadership to formally endorse his candidacy as early as tomorrow morning.

Republicans, meanwhile, face further setback as they weigh the prospect of a Dem Senate with the power to push preferred legislation without any bipartisan support. Conversely, the new dynamic will advance an already evolving storyline in Washington -- that Obama, despite his campaign rhetoric promising post partisanship and bridge building between the parties, is governing in a highly polarized time alongside a sharply divided Congress.

"Specter is a bummer for Republicans and a bummer for America," said GOP strategist Phil Musser. "His announcement is an acknowledgment of political reality, with the echoes of Tea Parties ringing loudly in his ears."

(JENNIFER SKALKA)