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"I welcome Senator Specter and his moderate voice to our diverse caucus," Majority Leader Harry Reid said in a statement. "We have not always agreed on every issue, but Senator Specter has shown a willingness to work in a bipartisan manner, put people over party, and do what is right for Pennsylvanians and all Americans."
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., called Specter "an effective, intelligent and moderate senator. We welcome him into the Democratic Party and our caucus in the Senate."
Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said, "He is extraordinarily influential. He is one of a small group of senators that you go to when you try to consolidate the center to show that you have strong support for initiatives like health care reform. This makes a very significant difference in the health care reform discussion."
John Kerry, D-Mass., said, "This is now officially a Republican Party where moderates need not apply, and a Democratic Party under President Obama that welcomes all perspectives and is determined to find consensus to move America forward."
As one of the most senior Republicans in the Senate, Specter held powerful positions on the Judiciary and Appropriations panels. It was not clear how Democrats would calculate his seniority in assigning committee perches.
Specter has long been an independent Republican, and he proved it most recently when he became one of only three members of the GOP in Congress to vote for Obama's economic stimulus legislation.
"It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable," Specter said. "I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania."
More:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-04-28-specter-party-switch_N.htm
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