Santorum calls Specter’s defection ‘a huge blow’

Former Senator Rick Santorum today said Arlen Specter’s decision to switch to the Democratic party would hamper the GOP’s ability to act as a check on the Obama administration and the Democratic Congress.

“I spoke with Arlen this morning and he explained his reasoning to me,” Santorum said in a statement. “I told him I was deeply disappointed that he felt he had to do it. His decision is a huge blow to the Republican’s ability to moderate any of President Obama’s very liberal proposals, and I can only hope that Arlen will be as independent as a Democrat as he has been as a Republican.”