That was probably the deal that was made when Specter switched, and voted for HCR as part of his side of the bargain, etc. I have this intuition that Specter is more interested in political survival than ideology. He is a very practical man.
Nah, he was always decidedly left of center for the GOP. And as the GOP has steadily moved further and further right, it was a race between retirement and him leaving the party.
Ya, that is Specter's side of the story I admit. Color me cynical. The ironic thing in any event as to timing, is that the next Senate will have more moderate GOP Senators.
Eh, maybe. Its hard to say exactly how moderate Hoeven will be. Castle will be moderate, but Voinovich is leaving. I don't think Kirk will win when its all set and done.
However, keep in mind the PA Republican electorate became much more conservative. Specter's strongest base was moderates in suburban Philadelphia. The Party registration changes in Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware and Chester counties were simply immense. Specter's old school moderate suburban base simply left the party in droves. FTR, I am pulling for Sestak and would vote for him if I was in PA.
