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Home Front: Politix
Specter a RINO No More
2009-04-28
Veteran GOP Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania intends to switch political parties and run in the Democratic primary in 2010, FOX News has confirmed.
We had multiple posts on this. Cornsilk Blondie wins the lottery.
Note to self, look at main page before making previous pronouncement
Republican voters had sent him to the Senate five times. But faced with the prospect of a strong challenge from conservative Pat Toomey in the GOP primary and the state trending Democratic, Specter jumped ship.

"I deeply regret that I will be disappointing many friends and supporters," Specter said in prepared remarks to be delivered at a news conference on Tuesday. "I can understand their disappointment," he continued. "I am also disappointed that so many in the party I have worked for for more than four decades do not want me to be their candidate. It is very painful on both sides."

The switch puts Democrats within two votes of a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. Democrats currently hold 56 seats in the Senate, and two independents typically vote with the party. Republicans have 41 seats, and there is one vacancy.

Specter was facing a tough primary challenge from Pat Toomey, head of the conservative Club for Growth, who almost defeated Specter in a 2004 GOP primary.
Specter was under heavy fire from conservatives for his support of President Obama's $787 stimulus bill earlier this year.
Posted by:Cornsilk Blondie

#4  FOX NEWS AM > IIUC Guest Pert argued that Specter is convinced the PA GOP won't support or nominate him, + he won't run or win as an Independent.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2009-04-28 21:21  

#3  I look at it as a surgical procedure: the Democratic Party just got an a**hole transplant.
Posted by: WTF   2009-04-28 20:37  

#2  In an interview on Fox he said (several times) that the Republican party moved too far to the right. I beg to differ; HE moved too far to the left.
Posted by: tipover   2009-04-28 20:34  

#1  I believe a modest, monetary contribution to Mr. Toomey's campaign will be my response.
Posted by: Besoeker   2009-04-28 18:01  

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