Specter's statement: "Not defined" by party

Politico via Drudge ^ | April 28, 2009 | Arlen Specter

[pillut48]

Statement by Senator Arlen Specter

I have been a Republican since 1966. I have been working extremely hard for the Party, for its candidates and for the ideals of a Republican Party whose tent is big enough to welcome diverse points of view. While I have been comfortable being a Republican, my Party has not defined who I am. I have taken each issue one at a time and have exercised independent judgment to do what I thought was best for Pennsylvania and the nation.

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.

Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate.

I have not represented the Republican Party.

I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.

I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.

I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.

I deeply regret that I will be disappointing many friends and supporters. I can understand their disappointment. I am also disappointed that so many in the Party I have worked for for more than four decades do not want me to be their candidate. It is very painful on both sides.

[Windcatcher]

As a PA voter, my perspective is that Specter has always been about PORK for PA. I would imagine that part of the deal is lots of money for PA, which will help him get elected (”better to be at the devil’s right hand than in his path”, and all that). Ultimately, it’s the Philly area that gets him elected, so if he brings back, for example, money to improve I-95, defense contracts for Lockheed or Boeing, that is, money for the four surrounding counties, that could put him over (there’s no point in him doing anything for the city of Philadelphia itself, it’s already heavily Dem, and they have plenty of congressmen going to bat for them).

All this makes me wonder if Toomey is really the best candidate against Specter, or if we should run Santorum instead. I guess we’ll find out.