Arlen Specter gives an early 100th-day present to President Obama.

For Arlen Specter, apparently, simply washing his hands wasn't enough to stop the contagion. With the Republican Party at historically low approval ratings, moderate Northeastern Republicans an endangered species, and a primary challenge from the right, the five-term senator from Pennsylvania has switched parties. "Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right," he said in a statement. "Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans." [ more ... ] (link)