From the AP:
Several officials say veteran Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania intends to switch parties, advancing his own hopes of winning a new term next year while pushing Democrats one step closer to a 60-vote filibuster-resistant majority.
The sources said an announcement could come later in the day — or Wednesday. The officials who provided the information did so on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to discuss his plans.
Specter is a 79-year-old veteran of five Senate terms, and one of only a handful of moderate Republicans left in Congress in a party made up largely of conservatives.
Assuming Minnesota Al Franken ultimately succeeds in his court battle against GOP Senator Norm Coleman this will give Democrats a filibuster proof majority.
Update: Specter’s party switch to run as a Democrat will obviously stretch the seams of the ‘big tent’ party. I wonder how he will win as a Democrat in blue collar Pennsylvania after opposing union favored legislation.
From his statement:
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 (Card Check) will not change.
