So what promises were made to Specter to switch?

[MessiahRp]

Who else thinks Schumer and Rahm got together and all but assured the DSCC will step in and make sure his primary opposition is ousted before they ever have a chance? It wouldn't be the first time they've done this for right leaners whom would fit in with the establishment. See: Klobuchar, Amy.

If the DSCC steps in we can kiss our chances of having someone even slightly progressive in the seat goodbye. They'll get every major star all the way up to Obama campaigning for him... in the primaries. There will be no way to raise money or stem the media tide that will go in Specter's direction thanks to the push by the DSCC.

I've seen, "we'll just primary him" in a bunch of threads now. Don't you think Specter wouldn't have switched if he wasn't assured that this would not happen?

Rp

[Occam Bandage]

1. The DSCC promised him they would not support a primary opponent,

presumably on the condition that Arlen plays ball when we need him to. If he doesn't live up to his end, we don't have to live up to ours--and either way, Ned Lamont proved you don't need the DSCC to win a primary.

[MessiahRp]

3. Yeah and how did that work out for Lamont once they got to the general election?

He was so battered during the primary that once he got to the general it was easy for Republicans to vote for Holy Joe and pick him off.

Rp

[Occam Bandage]

6. If Specter acts like a Republican, and then pulls a Lieberman after losing the primary,

it'll be the exact same situation as it would be had he never switched parties: Toomey with the Republican endorsement, the Democrat with the most support, and Specter without a party, without a donor base, and fighting for the scraps.

[derby378]

8. Interesting take

That would be one hell of a way to blow the war chest, not to mention your family's fortune.

[WI_DEM]

2. I'm sure they did promise to support him. Politics is hardcore and I for one am glad to have Arlen

He actually should have done this years ago.

[MessiahRp]

4. You're going to love him when he joins Bayh's gang of traitors...

Because you know damn well he'll vote with those assholes.

Rp

[Occam Bandage]

7. So what? He already does.

He'll vote with them less as a Dem, and will vote for cloture more often, since he doesn't have Michael Steele threatening to withhold RNC funding for doing so.

[MiniMe]

5. He will retain his seniority.