First Specter reacts

Timothy McNulty | April 28, 2009

We'll be updating on this huge story throughout the day.

First up, P-G political editor Jim O'Toole:

After months of denying speculation that he would run in 2010 as an independent or a Democrat, the veteran Republican announced in a statement on his campaign Web site today that he would seek re-election next year as a Democrat, the party he left decades ago when the Philadelphia GOP recruited him as its candidate for district attorney.

The announcement came days after the release of a Rasmussen survey that showed the incumbent trailing badly behind Pat Toomey, the former congressman who narrowly missed defeating him for the Republican nomination in 2004.

Mr. Specter, 79, is one of only a handful of moderate Republicans left in Congress in a party made up largely of conservatives. He noted that trend in his statement.

"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."

Specter's official statement here. His press conference is streaming live on C-Span at 2:15.

From the White House:

10:25 AM - While in the Oval Office and during his Economic Daily Briefing, the President was handed a note that said "Specter is announcing he is changing parties."

10:32 AM - President Obama reaches Senator Specter and tells him "you have my full support" and that we are "thrilled to have you."

New York Times:

If Al Franken prevails in his ongoing court case in Minnesota and Mr. Specter begins caucusing with Democrats, Democrats would have 60 votes and the ability to deny Republicans the chance to stall legislation. Mr. Specter was one of only three Republicans to support President Obama's economic recovery legislation.

The news shocked Senate Republicans, who had been hanging on to their ability to block legislation by a thread. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, called an emergency meeting of party leaders who had no forewarning of Mr. Specter's plans.

From Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid:

"I have known Senator Specter for more than a quarter-century. He has always been a man of honor and integrity, and a fine public servant.

"Senator Specter and I have had a long dialogue about his place in an evolving Republican Party. We have not always agreed on every issue, but Senator Specter has shown a willingness to work in a bipartisan manner, put people over party, and do what is right for Pennsylvanians and all Americans.

"I welcome Senator Specter and his moderate voice to our diverse caucus, and to continuing our open and honest debate about the best way to make life better for the American people."

One of the few Republicans to stand by Specter -- U.S. Sen John Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee -- is understandably angry:

"Senator Specter's decision today represents the height of political self-preservation.  While this presents a short-term disappointment, voters next year will have a clear choice to cast their ballots for a potentially unbridled Democrat super-majority versus the system of checks-and-balances that Americans deserve."

Rick Santorum is also bummed:

Asked his reaction in an online chat with POLITICO, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (R) said: "I spoke with Arlen this morning and he explained his reasoning to me. I told him I was deeply disappointed that he felt he had to do it. It is a huge blow to the Republicans' ability to moderate any of Obama's very liberal proposals. I can only hope that Arlen will be as independent as a Democrat as he has been as a Republican."

Pennsylvania GOP chief Rob Gleason, another guy who had stood by the embattled incumbent:

Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released the following statement after hearing the news regarding Senator Arlen Specter's decision to leave our Party:

"I am deeply disappointed in Senator Arlen Specter's decision to leave the Republican Party, as he has benefited from the support of our Party for many years.  It is apparent that he chose to act in his own self-interest and put his political ambitions first.  The Republican Party has room for conservatives and moderates because we are the Party of ideas. 

"I, like many of my fellow Pennsylvania Republicans, took Senator Specter at his word when he said that he would not switch parties, and I believe he owes every Republican who has supported him over the last three decades an apology. I would urge Senator Specter to do the right thing and proactively return any and all campaign contributions he has received in recent months to run as a Republican in the upcoming election.  I am sure that most, if not all, of these donors would not have supported a Democrat candidate.

"Senator Arlen Specter can rest assured that we are committed to winning this seat back for the Republican Party in 2010.  I am confident that we will win this seat back."

From the WashPost:

Specter as a Democrat would also fundamentally alter the 2010 calculus in Pennsylvania as he was expected to face a difficult primary challenge next year from former Rep. Pat Toomey. The only announced Democrat in the race is former National Constitution Center head Joe Torsella although several other candidates are looking at the race.

The precariousness of Specter's political position -- a Republican in a Democratic-leaning state -- was on display earlier this year when he was one of three GOP senators to back President Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus plan. That vote was strongly condemned by conservative Republicans and Toomey used that vote as the launching pad for his candidacy.

Because of the shrinking Republican vote in the state, Specter was seen as a dead man walking politically in the primary with polling showing him trailing Toomey by ten or more points. The bar for Specter to run as an independent was also extremely high due to the rules governing such a third party candidacy.

Specter denied switching parties just six weeks ago:

"To eliminate any doubt, I am a Republican and I am running for re-election in 2010 as a Republican on the Republican ticket," Specter said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, he still left open the chance that he could jump from the Republican ship ahead of the election.

"It is an abstract possibility," he told The Morning Call. "But I am not making any plans on it."

He added: "I'm not really giving it any thought at all. It is a possibility in the sense that almost anything is a possibility. But I'm not planning to run as an independent."

Two P-G columnists -- Dan Simpson and Sally Kalson -- had called on Specter to make the switch.

This throws a major screwball into all that speculation on who was going to run on the Democratic side. Joe Torsella, the only announced Dem candidate before Specter, says he's still in:

"I decided to run for the United States Senate from Pennsylvania for one simple reason: I believe we need new leadership, new ideas, and new approaches in Washington.  It's become obvious that the old ways of doing business might have worked for the special interests, but they haven't worked for the rest of us.

"Nothing about today's news regarding Senator Specter changes that, or my intention to run for the Democratic nomination to the Senate in 2010 - an election that is still a full year away."

Another Dem, Josh Shapiro, tells PoliticsPa he's already out:

Democratic State Rep. Josh Shapiro told PoliticsPA he would not run for Senate "under the circumstances." 

"Senator Specter is now the incumbent Democratic Senator," Shapiro said.

The polling scene, from Quinnipiac:

A March 25, 2009 Quinnipiac University poll showed Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter running more successfully as a Democrat for reelection and receiving a 71 - 16 percent approval rating from Democrats.

GOP candidate Peg Luksik's reaction.

From state Sen. Bob Mellow, D-Lackawanna, leader of the state Senate Democrats,

Mr. Mellow said today that he saw Sen. Specter about three months ago and he said, "Will you help me out in the (May 2010) primary?"" Mr Mellow replied, I'd love to, but you've gotta become a Democrat.''

Now he can.

"I think he's doing a great job for Pennsylvania,'' Mr. Mellow added. "I never viewed hm as a partisan Republican. His philosophy is much more aligned with the Democratic party. That's why the conservative wing of the Republican party would never accept him.''

Not everybody on the left wing is happy about this, by the way.

SenateGuru: If he remains an unreliable vote for cloture and continues to oppose EFCA and other initiatives that help working Americans, he will be no more of a Democrat moving forward than he has been previously.  A prominent progressive Democrat could boot Specter.

DailyKos: In some ways, Specter's switch doesn't give us anything much. As his statement says, he's not switching back on EFCA, he won't be a reliable Democratic vote, and he'll probably duke it out with Lieberman to be the most obnoxious anti-Democratic voice from within the caucus.

On the other hand, he was going to lose his primary and we'd easily pick up the seat against Toomey, giving us a real Democrat in that seat. Doesn't seem like a great deal.

This move is about political survival, and nothing more.

For the trivia file, here's your list of other Senate party changers, one that includes Strom Thurmond, Richard Shelby, and Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

A wildly enthusiastic response from the SEIU's Andy Stern, who, you'll recall, was making overtures to Specter just yesterday (while demanding he change his card-check vote):

It's clear to us that the right-wing conservatives in control of the leadership of the Republican party in Pennsylvania left Senator Specter long ago and we are pleased that he has decided to do the same.  Just as he did with his leadership on the economic stimulus bill, Senator Specter has once again demonstrated the political courage it takes to put the interests of the working families of Pennsylvania ahead of partisanship.  We have always had tremendous common ground with Senator Specter on issues important to working families including the need for reform to our nation's labor laws.  We look forward to continuing our long history of working with Senator Specter to create positive change for the working families of Pennsylvania