Taegan Goddard's Political Wire

May 07, 2009

Specter's Tough Switch

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), "has rapidly discovered that switching parties is not as simple as checking a new box on a voter-registration card," the New York Times reports.

"After a week and a day as a Democrat, Mr. Specter is viewed with suspicion by his new Democratic colleagues, with general disdain by his old Republican friends, and with an odd mix of amusement and pity all around."

"Under intense analysis of his every move and utterance, Mr. Specter canceled a scheduled appearance on Wednesday night on Larry King Live on CNN."

The Fix: "A series of odd incidents that have proceeded from Specter's party switch last week have raised questions about whether the newest Democrat has permanently damaged himself in the eyes of the state's voters. The White House is concerned enough about the developments that deputy chief of staff Jim Messina and Ron Klain, a senior adviser to Vice President Biden, traveled to Capitol Hill on Wednesday and huddled with Specter to try to iron out the problems."

CQ Politics: More losers than winners from Specter switch.

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Taegan D. Goddard is the creator of Political Wire, a political column updated around the clock with the most interesting news, buzz and commentary.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country, including the Washington Post, USA Today, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer and Christian Science Monitor.

This is a personal site and does not necessarily reflect the views of any company, political campaign or advocacy group.

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