Senator Arlen Specter (Pennsylvania), has announced he will switch Political Parties and become a Democrat.
Congratulations to Arlen Specter .... he has confirmed that he will be switching political parties and no longer be a member of the Republican Party. Specter says the Republican Party no longer represents his political views.
"I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary," said Specter in a statement. "I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election."
"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."
Pennsylvania has increasingly voted for Democrats and Specter was facing a tough bid to be the Republican candidate for the Senate seat in the state. If Democrats can control 60 Senate seats, they would be able to bypass Republican filibusters.
This makes for a really exciting (and encouraging) day in politics!!!