Specter’s Deflection

Arlen Specter broke away from the Republicans leaving the GOP more beaten and less popular. The unpopularity of the republicans is now nearing record levels. The last time that either of these parties has such wide senate margin has been during 1977-1978 the first two years of Jimmy Carter. There is speculation as to the reason for Specter’s abandonment, his move could have been motivated by principle, fear or opportunism or a combination of all the three. This move also comes in the same month when traditionally a GOP district in upstate New York went to the Democrats. There are only three republicans now out of the eighteen senators.