WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Arlen Specter abandoned the Republican Party for President Barack Obama’s Democrats yesterday, putting them within reach of a 60-seat majority that could give them absolute control of the Senate.
“This is a painful decision,” Specter told reporters of the stunning decision which boosted his 2010 re-election chances to a sixth six-year term by sidestepping a tough challenge in the Republican primary from conservative Pat Toomey.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid promptly welcomed Specter, 79, into the ranks of Democrats, who together with him now control 59 seats in the 100-member Senate. Democrats will reach 60 if they hold on to a contested Minnesota Senate race.
A 60-vote majority would be enough to override Republican procedural hurdles and muscle through key parts of Obama’s agenda, including measures to provide health insurance to all Americans and combat global warming while moving the nation toward energy independence.
The last time either party held 60 Senate seats was in 1978, when the Democrats had 61. Democrat Al Franken, who won the vote tally in Minnesota, would be the 60th but Republican incumbent Norm Coleman is challenging the count in court.
“Since my election in 1980 … the Republican Party has moved far to the right,” Specter said in a statement explaining his decision. “I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.”
Specter said in the statement posted on his campaign Web site, “My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats than I have been for the Republicans.” An administration official said Obama was handed a note during his daily economic briefing at the White House that said Specter would announce he was changing parties.
A few minutes later, the official said Obama reached Specter and told him “you have my full support” and that Democrats were “thrilled to have you.”
