Below The Beltway

As I noted last week, now that he faces another primary challenge from Pat Toomey, there is speculation that Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter may leave the Republican Party. Since then, while he has ruled out running as a Democrat in 2010, he is apparently still considering running as an Independent:

Sen. Arlen Specter said Tuesday that he will not run for reelection in 2010 as a Democrat, but might run as an Independent.

The Pennsylvania Republican has been under tremendous pressure from the GOP base since being one of just three Republicans to vote for the Democratic-led stimulus package last month.

He said in an interview with The Hill that the role of the Republican Party in Washington is too vital for him to switch to the Democratic side.

“I’m staying a Republican because I think I have a more important role to play there,” he said. “I think the United States very desperately needs a two-party system. … And I’m afraid that we’re becoming a one-party system, with Republicans becoming just a regional party.”

At the same time, Specter said he is open to the possibility of running as an Independent with the understanding that he would caucus with Republicans, just as Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) did with Democrats in 2006.
Though he left that option on the table, he suggested it would be a last resort.

“It’s pretty hard to run without a party,” Specter said. “It’s always something that could be a possibility. But then I wouldn’t be in the Republican caucus — wouldn’t have quite the standing as a Republican.”

Brad at The Crossed Pond also passes along this interesting tidbit:

[A]s an independent, he apparently has exacted a promise from the AFL-CIO and other labor organizations that, if he votes for Employee Free Choice, he’ll be supported in the general by labor against either Republican or Democratic challengers.

Since voting yes on EFCA would probably be the last straw for most Republicans, it’s no doubt a good idea that Specter has extracted this promise of support from labor.