Egg on establishment GOP’s faces as Specter switches parties

WaPo’s The Fix blog is reporting that when Arlen Specter runs for reelection next year he will do so … as a Democrat:

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter will switch his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat and announced today that he will run in 2010 as a Democrat, according to a statement he released this morning.

Specter’s decision would give Democrats a 60 seat filibuster proof majority in the Senate assuming Democrat Al Franken is eventually sworn in as the next Senator from Minnesota. (Former Sen. Norm Coleman is appealing Franken’s victory in the state Supreme Court.)

“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.”

He added: “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 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.

Love how he blames Republicans for allegedly moving more “to the right” than himself for his clear shift to the left over the years. He’s learned well from Democrats: Don’t take responsibility for your own decisions and actions; instead, blame everyone else.

Quips Malkin: “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

Wonder how the national GOP is feeling now, since a couple of weeks ago it was reported that they were lining up to support Specter over the conservative Toomey, just like they did last time around?

Egg.Faces. Not a pretty picture.

Now more than ever is the time to get behind Toomey, especially considering the fact that Specter will be getting support from all kinds of liberal groups who will want to keep their filibuster proof majority. Go here to learn more about Pat Toomey, and to find out how you can help him in his second bid to unseat Specter.

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Read much more via Memeorandum.

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