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Sen. Arlen Specter released an announcement today through his campaign website announcing that he will switch parties and run in the Democratic primary in 2010. His statement read in part:
I have been a Republican since 1966. I have been working extremely hard for the Party, for its candidates and for the ideals of a Republican Party whose tent is big enough to welcome diverse points of view. While I have been comfortable being a Republican, my Party has not defined who I am. I have taken each issue one at a time and have exercised independent judgment to do what I thought was best for Pennsylvania and the nation.
Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.
When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing.
Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.
I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.
Specter, who recently appeared on the Pittsburgh radio show The Union Edge has come under fierce pressure to allow the Employee Free Choice Act to be put to an up or down vote on the Senate floor. Specter addresses the issue directly:
My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats that I have been for the Republicans. Unlike Senator Jeffords’ switch which changed party control, I will not be an automatic 60th vote for cloture. For example, my position on Employees Free Choice will not change.
Specter’s decision is expected to cause a seismic shift in the senate’s delicate balance of power even before the primary in thirteen months. Specter must decide with whom he will caucus and Republican leadership must consider how it will react and if they will try to keep him from switching caucuses immediately. Assuming Al Franken is seated in June after a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling, the Democrats will have a filibuster proof majority at least in terms of party affiliation.
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