Former Republican now Democrat Senator Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania announced his party switch in Washington. Senator Specter has been only a few moderate Republicans left in the Capital Hill, and historically he has crossed party lines and voted with the Democrats time to time. Specter has remarked that the break was a tough decision, and Republicans have criticized Specter's move. Democrats have welcomed Specter to their party and promised fundraising support for his Senate reelection next year. If the state of Minnesota confirms Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken as its Senator, then Democrats will have a 60 majority in the Senate that can help the party push through some key legislations without the procedural hurdles from the Republicans.

This is big news. I knew Arlen Specter was quite a moderate Republican, but this party switching is unexpected. Now the pressure is on the Minnesota's Senate race, which has been dragging on by Norm Coleman's legal appeal. There seems to be an echoing sentiment by the moderate Republicans that the party has moved too far to the right. I think this is a wakeup call for the Republican Party, because in the short term Democratic Party dominance will lead to successful policy execution.