The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was passed by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by President Obama on February 17 2009. The senate vote loomed until three Republicans Senators Snowe Collins and Specter switched alliances to vote with the Democrats to pass the stimulus package.
The bill totaling in $787 billion includes expansion of entitlements earmarks and so called shovel-ready" projects.
Just days after the Senate vote a Rasmussen Report found that 58 of Republicans were less likely to vote for Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) in 2010 because of his vote on the stimulus package. Similarly 48 of independent voters said they were less likely to vote for Specter. Of his constituents 52 said they felt that the stimulus package would at least somehow make things worse instead of better.
Senator Specter announced yesterday in a news conference that I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary. I am ready willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.
Since my election … the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year more than 200000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."
Specter defended his vote for the stimulus in a Washington Post piece citing other moderates" such as Snowe and Collins. However Specter is the only one of the three up for re-election in 2010.
Specter was to face Rep. Pat Toomey in a primary. A Quinnipiac University Polling Institute poll showed that Specter fared far better running in the race as a Democrat. The poll showed Toomey ahead in the primary by 41-to-27 percent. The poll cited Republican disappointment in Specters vote for the stimulus plan.
The poll also showed that Democrats rated Specter with 71 percent approval whereas his former party the Republicans rated him with just 36 approval.
Jake Tapper of ABC News reports that just thirteen days ago Specter said in response to a reporters query as to whether he would run as an Independent or Democrat that I am a Republican and I am going to run on the Republican ticket in the Republican primary."
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Texas Senator John Cornyn said in a prepared statement that Senator Specters decision today represents the height of political self-preservation."
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was passed by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by President Obama on February 17 2009. The senate vote loomed until three Republicans Senators Snowe Collins and Specter switched alliances to vote with the Democrats to pass the stimulus package.
The bill totaling in $787 billion includes expansion of entitlements earmarks and so called shovel-ready" projects.
Just days after the Senate vote a Rasmussen Report found that 58 of Republicans were less likely to vote for Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) in 2010 because of his vote on the stimulus package. Similarly 48 of independent voters said they were less likely to vote for Specter. Of his constituents 52 said they felt that the stimulus package would at least somehow make things worse instead of better.
Senator Specter announced yesterday in a news conference that I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary. I am ready willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.
Since my election … the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year more than 200000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."
Specter defended his vote for the stimulus in a Washington Post piece citing other moderates" such as Snowe and Collins. However Specter is the only one of the three up for re-election in 2010.
Specter was to face Rep. Pat Toomey in a primary. A Quinnipiac University Polling Institute poll showed that Specter fared far better running in the race as a Democrat. The poll showed Toomey ahead in the primary by 41-to-27 percent. The poll cited Republican disappointment in Specters vote for the stimulus plan.
The poll also showed that Democrats rated Specter with 71 percent approval whereas his former party the Republicans rated him with just 36 approval.
Jake Tapper of ABC News reports that just thirteen days ago Specter said in response to a reporters query as to whether he would run as an Independent or Democrat that I am a Republican and I am going to run on the Republican ticket in the Republican primary."
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Texas Senator John Cornyn said in a prepared statement that Senator Specters decision today represents the height of political self-preservation."
