http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0409/specter_5642ba9c-d453-4fc1-96dc-5edb38690272.html
OBAMA CALLS SPECTER: POTUS talked to Specter at 10:32 this morning from the Oval Office, said Dems are “thrilled to have you,” according to a White House aide. — Jonathan Martin (12:16 p.m.)
MORE: President Obama was informed of Sen. Arlen Specter’s decison to switch parties at 10:25 this morning while receiving his daily economic briefing in the Oval Office, according to a White House official.
Obama was handed a note by an aide that read: “Specter is announcing he is changing parties.”
The president reached Sen. Specter, one of only three Republicans to support his stimulus package, on the phone at 10:32 and told him “you have my full support.” He added that we are “thrilled to have you.”
Officials close to the White House say that Vice President Joe Biden, who served in the Senate with Specter for 28 years from next door Delaware and became close to him through their work on the Judiciary Committee, played a pivotal if quiet role in persuading the five-term senator to switch parties. — Jonathan Martin (12:22 p.m.)
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn released a letter today offering a full-throated endorsement of Sen. Arlen Specter in his coming primary against former congressman Pat Toomey,
Hooray!! the SWINE finally FLEW!!
this is news, that walking corpse switch a long time ago, he just didnt get kicked out yet, the GOP leadership is worthless, spineless, wont deal with the traitors.
Best news I heard in quite a while, hopefully the rest of the RINO's will quickly join him. The only hope for the republican party is to return to conservative principals and have a consistent message, something they will never be able to do until they purge the liberal garbage from the party.
“Officials close to the White House say that Vice President Joe Biden, who served in the Senate with Specter for 28 years from next door Delaware and became close to him through their work on the Judiciary Committee, played a pivotal if quiet role in persuading the five-term senator to switch parties.”
This is the biggest BS spin effort I’ve ever read. Specter knew he couldn’t win the 2010 primary, no how no way. For the pure sake of political self preservation he called his old friend Joe and said he’d like to make a deal. Joe promised his and Obambi’s full support in the 2010 dem primary and the general, no question, even if Specter did not march in lock step with The One’s agenda. At least Jeffords switched parties very shortly after Bush’s inaugural, and I believe he did it because he had fundamental differences with Bush and his agenda. Specter is a totally different story. If anything the dems in PA should be very wary of him, he does not remind me of a candidate who instills confidence and trust, to say the least. I don’t think Specter will campaign as an Obamabot, he knows he needs dem, some Repub and the majority of Ind voters in order to return to Washington. That’s why I think he will vote with his former friends more often than many believe, just to try to carve out an independent reputation. I think the real winner today is Pat Toomey, Go Pat!!!