Sen. Arlen Specter Switches to the Democratic Party

[12thMan]

Well Specter did start out as Dem, but in 1965 to run for district attorney -- a non-political office-- in Philly. Fact is, he's the very first Republican Senator to switch directly to the Democrat party. Ever. So there is some precedence here.

But aside from whatever political motivations Specter had for swtiching camps, the bigger story here is that if further cements the perception in the minds of most American people that the Republican party has become much more conservative than the rest of the country. Not that being conservative or conservatism is bad because it's not, but the Republican party has to shake this image of being too rigid on a host of issues that matter to folks accross the political spectrum.