Sen. Arlen Specter acknowledged Tuesday that his switching to the Democratic Party was politically motivated.
At a news conference, Specter said he polled Pennsylvania, traveled the state and found his chances for winning the 2010 Republican Senate primary against Former Rep. Pat Toomey were “bleak.”
Specter said he has found himself “ad odds with the Republican philosophy and more in line with the philosophy of the Democratic Primary.”
And Specter defiantly said he would not let his future in the Senate be determined by Pennsylvania Republicans.
“I am not prepared to have my 29-year record in the United State Senate decided by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate,” he said. “I am prepared to take on all comers in the general election.”
Specter appeared jovial at the press conference and often joked with reporters. He acknowledged that his decision likely disappointed some members of the GOP caucus, but said that they were friendly and respectful when he informed them of his decision.
“I think people respect my sincerity, respect what I have done in the Senate and respect what I intend to do,” he said of his Republican colleagues.
“I know that I am disappointing many of my friends and colleagues and frankly I have been disappointed by some of the responses,” he added. “So the disappointment runs in both directions.”
The senator also said that he is under the impression that he will be granted seniority in the Democratic caucus as if he were first elected in 1980 as a Democrat, not a Republican. That would move Specter ahead of several Democratic senators.