Centerfield

Specter on Moderates

Howard Bashman's How Appealing has a link to this Philadelphia Inquirer interview with Senator Arlen Specter. The most relevant section is excerpted below.

"It's important for the party but it's also important to the country that the Republican Party has balance," Specter said. "And there are a lot of independents and swing Democrats who look to see that there are moderate voices in the Republican Party."

Recalling his short-lived campaign for the presidential nomination in 1996, Specter said he never harbored any illusions about being the GOP nominee, but he was struck by the fact that he, as the only candidate in the field supporting abortion rights, received only token support from moderates.

"There really is an urgent need for more vocal participation by moderates and pro-choice Republicans," he said.

Specter said he had recently sought out other moderate GOP members of the Senate. Though he declined to characterize those conversations, he said the only way they could remain relevant was to assert themselves.

The latest episode over the Judiciary Committee chairmanship was just a skirmish in a longer siege, Specter said.

"It's a very important battle," he said. "And it's really a battle for balance in the party and it's really a battle for balance in America."