Chris Cilizza is reporting that Arlen Specter is switching to the Democratic Party. Can he vote for EFCA now? (No, he won't, according to his statement.)
Winners:
President Barack Obama (Happy 100 days!)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Happy 60 votes!)
Senator Arlen Specter (Happy chance at re-election!)
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (no more bloody primary between up-and-coming Pennsylvania representatives -- maybe)
Losers:
The Republican Party (cue the shrinking-tent story)
Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee John Cornyn (Must be regretting this decision)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Who's he again?)
Hell of a scoop, Fix. (Apparently, Mike Crowley was there first!)
Update: Here's Specter's statement. An excerpt.
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.
-- Tim Fernholz
