Free Republic

Rep. Parker Griffith, a freshman Democrat from Alabama, is switching parties to become a Republican, Fox News has confirmed. Griffith is expected to make a formal announcement in an afternoon press conference on Tuesday. Griffith succeeded former Democratic Rep. Bud Cramer of Alabama, who retired earlier this year in a hard-fought contest for his northern Alabama seat. Republicans thought that district would be hard for Democrats to hold without Cramer on the ballot, but Griffith defeated Republican Wayne Parker by four percentage points -- even though Republican presidential nominee John McCain won every county in the district. Former President George...

WASHINGTON – Senior House aides say freshman Democratic lawmaker Parker Griffith of Alabama is switching to the Republican Party. -- Griffith is a radiation oncologist. His switch comes as Congress is trying to pass a much-contested health care bill. Democrats will still control the House by a substantial margin.

POLITICO has learned that Rep. Parker Griffith, a freshman Democrat from Alabama, will announce today that he’s switching parties to become a Republican. According to a senior GOP aide familiar with the decision, the announcement will take place in this afternoon in his home district in northern Alabama.