Biden Pitched Party Switch To Specter

Vice President Prodded The Moderate Republican To Join The Democratic Party For Years

(CBS/AP)  For years, Vice President Joe Biden has encouraged his friend Sen. Arlen Specter, a moderate Republican, to join the Democratic Party. And for years, it's been largely a one-sided discussion.

Specter finally saw it Biden's way, announcing Tuesday that he was leaving the GOP in a move that put President Barack Obama's party to within one vote of the 60 needed to overcome Senate filibusters.

"You have my full support" and the Democratic Party is "thrilled to have you," Mr. Obama told Specter by phone after learning of the senator's intentions when passed a note during a morning Oval Office briefing.

Advisers said that was the first Mr. Obama had heard that Specter was switching parties, though they left open the possibility that White House officials, if not Mr. Obama himself, knew in recent days that a change was possible.

Democrats inside and outside the White House insisted that Specter made the decision on his own and without pressure from Mr. Obama's inner or outer circle. The White House says it didn't promise Specter anything, such as a plum committee assignment or a clear Democratic primary field. (Read analysis of Specter's Senate switch.)

As pleased as the Democrats are with moving one step closer to a filibuster-proof, 60-seat majority in the Senate (pending the resolution of the Al Franken-Norm Coleman race in Minnesota), Republicans view the switch as crass politics, reports CBS News White House correspondent Chip Reid.

"He'd been informed by his pollster that it would be impossible to be re-elected in pennsylvania as a Republican," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Tuesday.

The moderate Specter said Pennsylvania's Republican party had become too conservative.

"I have found myself increasingly at odds with the Republican philosophy," the 79-year-old senator said.

The president, vice president and Specter were to address reporters on the veteran Republican's party switch at the White House on Wednesday before Mr. Obama makes a trip to Missouri.

Democratic officials privately credited Biden, the former Delaware senator who is close to Specter both personally and professionally, and his persistent prodding through the years with helping create a comfortable, welcoming environment for the five-term Pennsylvania senator to make the change.

"I have been working on that in earnest for the past four years and double time for the past 100 days (as vice president)," Biden told a Democratic fundraiser in Houston on Tuesday.

Specter and Biden served together for many years on the Senate Judiciary Committee and are from neighboring states.

In February, in Philadelphia, Biden thanked Specter for being one of only three Republicans to support Mr. Obama's economic stimulus bill and said, "In his heart, I know he's a Democrat."

One senior White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because discussions were private, said Biden and Specter have talked in person or by phone once a week since Mr. Obama was sworn into office but switching parties didn't always come up. The official said Biden did not find out that Specter was leaving the GOP until the senator told the vice president Tuesday morning.

Another senior White House official said Mr. Obama was surprised to learn of Specter's decision. The official said Specter's switch was not the product of a long negotiation with the White House and was not part of a quid pro quo in which Obama officials brokered a deal of any sort.

Even so, advisers swiftly pledged to swing the weight of the White House behind Specter's re-election bid, promising to work on his behalf in a Democratic primary if Specter asks.

"If the president is asked to raise money for Sen. Specter, we're happy to do it," press secretary Robert Gibbs said. "If the president is asked to campaign for Sen. Specter, we'll be happy to do it. As the president told Sen. Specter on the phone, he has our full support."

He added: "I think the president is quite pleased. Understatement of the day."

[antoniof123]

Wow, I have never read such fear in the wacko party of America. They are just throwing insult after insult.

I warned you 2 years ago and even after the election now it is coming true.

Moderate or fall off the cliff.

[noloyalisti]

Not ONE Republi CON voted for the budget bill. The wacko reactionary party of No, Nope and No Hope strikes again. Let's get rid of this sad obsolete Anti-American "party" of death.

[noloyalisti]

Sorry ralpherus a third world nation is what we have now thanks to the GOP and their big corporate criminal associates. Lack of good health care, two immoral occupations for oil and huge corporate welfare for corporate criminals. Oh and what percentage of children living in poverty. Time to wake up and face the real enemy (Tip: it is not the left or liberals or Democrats).

[noloyalisti]

The reason we don't need the GOP is that they have been WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING. Their extremist right wing fiscal ideology is a complete failure for labor and the American people. There are plenty of right wing extremists like Specter in the Dems party, why do we need the extremist Republi CONS?

[noloyalisti]

This switch just brings the central-right Democratic party further to the right. Dump Specter and the rest of the failed obsolete GOP in 2010 and 2012.

[tomadams99]

Boy, good old Uncle Joe...what a hero. Guess the dirtbag needs something to hang his hat on. Laughing at the charade.

[credibility2]

....the new brain trust....

[bumpedoff1]

A man that can not be trusted has no firends

[skyk-2009]

solar rays- I too am angry with the people who are "running the party" but those are infiltrators and pretenders like snow collins mccain and specter- NOT the true republicans. Recall what you loved about the GOP- that is still the GOP's heart. We only need to get rid of the RINO's and we are BACK. what was the question arthur?
Posted by ralpherus at 8:04 AM : Apr 29, 2009

LOL You just keep "purifying" the Party there my friend. The rest of us, Including the over 200 THOUSAND Moderate Republican's in PA that are NOW Democrats? We're going to be talking, respecting each others opinions and compromising to move the nation forward. You do realize that very LIBERAL idea was how the Nation started to begin with don't you. As for you and those like you? With each passing minute you become just dust in History.

[Solarrays247]

solar rays- I too am angry with the people who are "running the party" but those are infiltrators and pretenders like snow collins mccain and specter- NOT the true republicans. Recall what you loved about the GOP- that is still the GOP's heart. We only need to get rid of the RINO's and we are BACK. what was the question arthur?
Posted by ralpherus at 8:04 AM : Apr 29, 2009

You make my skin crawl....you are not a true Republican....YOU are the imposter!

Now, I really must get to work.