GOP Sen. Specter joining Dems; switch shifts Senate

WASHINGTON -- Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter on Tuesday described his switch to the Democratic Party as "a painful decision," and he assured voters, "I will retain my independence, regardless of party label."

The party swap pushes Democrats closer to a 60-vote filibuster-resistant majority.

"I know that I am disappointing many of my friends and colleagues – frankly I have been disappointed by many of the responses, so disappointment runs in both directions," Specter said at an afternoon news conference.

"Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right," Specter said in a statement released earlier. "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, 79 and in his fifth term, is one of a handful of Republican moderates remaining in Congress. With Specter, Democrats would have 59 Senate seats. Al Franken, leading in a marathon recount in Minnesota against Republican Norm Coleman, could become the party's 60th vote. That is the number needed to overcome a filibuster.

Earlier in the day, outside the Senate floor, he was approached by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who shook Specter's hand and thanked him, adding, "You're a good friend."

Specter had faced a stiff re-election challenge in his home state in 2010. Former three-term Republican congressman Pat Toomey was gaining conservative support for his primary challenge. Had Specter fended off Toomey, he would have had to face a Democrat from a party that has gained strength and numbers in recent years.

"What Pennsylvanians must now ask themselves is whether Sen. Specter is in fact devoted to any principle other than his own re-election," Toomey said in a statement.

Philadelphia civic leader Joe Torsella, who had been a leading candidate in the Democratic primary, said he planned to remain in the race.

Specter's decision drew an immediate and sharp response from Republicans, including National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.

"Let's be honest — Sen. Specter didn't leave the GOP based on principles of any kind," Steele said in a statement. "He left to further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose a Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record.

"Republicans look forward to beating Sen. Specter in 2010, assuming the Democrats don't do it first."

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, issued a statement calling Specter's decision the "height of political self-preservation." Cornyn said voters in Pennsylvania will have a "clear choice to cast their ballots for a potentially unbridled Democrat super-majority vs. the system of checks-and-balances that Americans deserve."

Former Bush political director Karl Rove told Fox News that Specter has become too liberal for Pennsylvania Republicans and that the party switch was "driven by one thing, and one thing alone, which is lousy poll numbers in a primary match with Pat Toomey."

Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., who helped Specter fend off a primary challenge from Toomey in 2004, said he was "deeply disappointed" by Specter's move.

"His decision is a huge blow to the Republicans' ability to moderate any of President Obama's very liberal proposals," Santorum said in a statement. "I can only hope that Arlen will be as independent as a Democrat as he has been as a Republican."

Democrats, however, welcomed Specter with open arms.

"I welcome my old friend to the Democratic Party," Vice President Biden said. "Sen. Arlen Specter is a man of remarkable courage and integrity. I know he will remain a powerful and independent voice for Pennsylvania and the country."

"We are thrilled to welcome Sen. Specter into the Democratic fold and he can count on our full support," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine.

"I welcome Sen. Specter and his moderate voice to our diverse caucus," Majority Leader Harry Reid said in a statement. "We have not always agreed on every issue, but Sen. 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."

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., called Specter "an effective, intelligent and moderate senator. We welcome him into the Democratic Party and our caucus in the Senate."

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said, "He is extraordinarily influential. He is one of a small group of senators that you go to when you try to consolidate the center to show that you have strong support for initiatives like health care reform. This makes a very significant difference in the health care reform discussion."

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said, "This is now officially a Republican Party where moderates need not apply, and a Democratic Party under President Obama that welcomes all perspectives and is determined to find consensus to move America forward."

As one of the most senior Republicans in the Senate, Specter held powerful positions on the Judiciary and Appropriations panels. It was not clear how Democrats would calculate his seniority in assigning committee perches.

Specter has long been an independent Republican, and he proved it most recently when he became one of only three members of the GOP in Congress to vote for Obama's economic stimulus legislation.

"It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable," Specter said. "I am unwilling to have my 29-year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania."

Philadelphia lawyer Mark Alderman, an early Obama backer, couldn't believe the news. "Everybody had heard the speculation but I will candidly tell you that I dismissed it.

"There's little in the political world that surprises me anymore, but this counts as a genuine surprise," Alderman said.

Contributing: Fredreka Schouten in Washington, John Bacon and Steve Marshall in McLean, Va.