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Live-blogging the Specter news conference

Specter is giving his news conference now…

2:22 Specter explaining how this move really began with his vote for the Stimulus Package, calling it “indispensable” to stop another Great Depression.

2:23 this plays into Steele’s hands – Specter marginalizing the “jury” of the Pennsylvanian Republican Primary Electorate – treating these people like the tea bagging fringe they are (or at least are perceived to be).

2:24 This is how he will frame his run: about doing what’s best for the people of Pennsylvania, playing up to his strength, which is his overall support in the state.

2:25 Specter throwing water on the notion that this will be an “automatic 60th vote,” taking a stand against the Employee Free Choice Act. This cannot be winning him any love from the Unions…

Well that was a brief, 5 minute statement. Here come questions from the press…

2:27 Specter: this is about me wanting to accomplish things, ticking off the issues he cares about and has been involved with for many years. He’s highlighting his experience because he wants people to feel he’s still valuable as their Senator in the state.

2:28 The Obama Phone Call: it did happen
What was it like talking to the Republicans about leaving? He says they were friendly, cracking jokes, but we know the reality is that he is trying to smooth over what was just a giant smack in the face to the GOP.

2:29 Does Specter Get a Chairmanship? His seniority would be a factor, as if he had come into the Senate in 1980 as a Democrat. That’s a pretty big promise from Senator Reid. I wonder what’s the quid pro quo, if Specter’s not gonna budge on “card check?”

2:30 He did this because he spoke to the consultants and the reality is that the polls are miserable for him, as pa2010 has been reporting. Says he made the decision to switch this weekend

2:32: the parties are becoming more extreme and partisan. that’s probably true.

2:33 Was Health Care a big issue that made you switch? Specter pivots, saying he’s been involved with lots of issues, and this switch is about an accumulation of factors, with the stimulus vote becoming an “irreconcileable difference.”

2:34 He’s opposed to Dawn Johnson, office of legal counsel… so no change on that front, either. So what are Dems actually getting out of this, if Specter’s still taking the same GOP line on all these issues?

2:35 makes a joke about enjoying Governor Rendell’s fundraising capabilities.

2:35 “The Republican Party Has Shifted Too Far To The Right” should be tomorrow’s headline… Specter has said it about 5 times already in this news conference. Fox News keeps splashing the line down at the bottom of the screen.

April 28, 2009 at 2:42 pm

--Adam Schwartzbaum

Tags: Arlen Specter, Democrat, live blog, news conference, party switch

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