Sen. Specter (R-PA) Switches to the Democrats

Breaking:

Veteran Republican Sen. Arlen Specter announced Tuesday that he is switching parties, a move that would give Democrats a filibuster-proof 60 seats if Al Franken is seated in the Minnesota race.

"I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary," the Pennsylvania senator said in a statement.

"I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans," Specter said, adding that the "change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats that I have been for the Republicans.

He would have lost the Republican primary next year, yet there is no guarantee that he'll win the Democratic primary either. While I appreciate the fact that this switch gives the Democrats the coveted 60th senate seat, Specter will surely join the ranks of Ben Nelson (NE), Evan Bayh (IN), and Joe Lieberman (CT) as conservative-leaning independent Democrats.