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Biden Wooed Specter for Years

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 29, 2009 10:49 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Joe Biden is the Democrat perhaps most responsible for Arlen Specter’s defection, Politico reports. The VP told a crowd yesterday that he had been trying to convince the Pennsylvania Republican “that he is really a Democrat” for more than 20 years. Specter's onetime Senate colleague recently stepped up the pace. “I have been working on that in earnest for the past 4 years and double-time for the past 100 days,” Biden said.

Biden says he told his friend—“a close friend, maybe the closest friend” in the Senate—that “your party has left you.” Biden doesn’t expect Specter to toe the Democratic line but said the move allowed him more freedom. “The point is that Arlen now is freed up to vote in a way that he doesn’t have to worry about angering his leadership,” he said. “It’s good for my friend Arlen, it’s also good for our party, but it’s even better for the country.”

Biden and Specter today, after the switch.
Biden and Specter today, after the switch.   (AP Photo)
Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Arlen Specter.
Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Arlen Specter.   (AP Photo)
Specter and Biden at the White House.
Specter and Biden at the White House.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Snowleopard
Apr 29, 2009 7:46 AM CDT
the spending is to stop the country from collapsing. If it wasn't done, the banking industry would have fallen like dominos, and then the country would truly be bankrupt. And why was this crisis occuring in the first place? Largely because of excessive deregulation, begun under president regan. President Bush doubled the national debt during his time in office. Where were you fiscal conversatives then? Hypocrites.
Timinator2K
Apr 29, 2009 5:06 AM CDT
SPECTER: SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Extortion and Revenge....and these are just my GOOD points, Mr. Bond.

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Joe Biden • Senate Democrats • Arlen Specter • Senate Republicans • vice president • Obama administration • switching parties

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