Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania has switched from the Republican to the Democratic party, giving the Democrats the possibility of a filibuster-proof 60-person majority if Al Franken of Minnesota is seated. Read more from the New York Times and follow updates on MSNBC.
Specter says he has been a Republican since the sixties, but has switched because, he said in a statement, “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.”
Congressional Republicans, MSNBC reported, said they believe the switch owes to the tough reelection race Specter faces in 2010 — to wit, Spector does not believe, they said, that he can win as a Republican. In his statement, Specter said, “Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats.”