On MSNBC right now –
WASHINGTON – Veteran Republican Sen. Arlen Specter announced Tuesday that he is switching parties, a move would give Democrats a filibuster-proof 60 seats if Al Franken is seated in the Minnesota race.
“I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary,” the Pennsylvania senator said in a statement.
“I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans,” Specter said, adding that the “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.”In March, Specter issued a statement saying there is no way he would switch parties.
“To eliminate any doubt, I am a Republican, and I am running for reelection in 2010 as a Republican on the Republican ticket,” he said at the time.
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That’s 59 Democrats – with a Democratic Senator to be in Minnesota – for a someday 60 in the Senate. Arlen Specter … a Democrat … holy crap.
Officially being the key word here. “I’m a Republican” has long been a pretty hollow statement from Sen. Specter, the real truth was in the second half of his statement “I am running for reelection . . . on the Republican ticket” (until now).