Senator Arlen Specter, a former republican from Pennsylvania called President Barack Obama the morning of April 28, 2009 to announce his decision to join the president's democratic party. President Obama was in an economic briefing and responded to Senator Specter after the briefing with his blessings.

Senator Specter had spoken to his family and advisors who told him his chances were "bleak" in reference to  retaining his Senate seat in Pennsylvania as a Republican. Vice President Biden welcomed his friend to the Democratic Party as they have been  longtime friends. The voting margins in the Senate now is 40 Republicans and 59 Democrats, one Democratic vote from silencing the Republican party on matters on the Senate Floor and filibusters.

Senator Specter was one of the three Republicans who helped President Barack Obama get the $787 billion Economic Package to be passed into a law on February 17, 2009. The Republicans are saying that Senator Specter only changed from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party for "self-preservation."

Senator Specter may now be a Democrat and helped to get the huge economic recovery package passed but he is known to be independent in his views on certain Obama policies like unionization. Senate Majority Leader Republican Mitch O'Connell said that he was not happy that Senator Specter had decided to join the Democratic Party. Senator Specter had spent 28 years in Congress as a Republican.

Senator Specter switched parties to run for the Pennsylvania election of 2010.Senator Specter advisers had told him that he had no chance of winning against his opponent Pat Toomey unless he changed from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party. Several hundred thousand Republicans voted Democratic and helped President Barack Obama win the November, 2008 election. In addition,  Senator Specter has said that he found himself "increasingly at odds with the Republican Party"

Senator Specter admitted that after many years in the Senate he did not want to lose reelection because of the shift that was made during the 2008 election. Senator Specter announcement of his political party change came on the eve of President Barack Obama 100th day in presidential office. President Barack Obama said that he will support Senator Specter in his bid for reelection and will campagn vigilantly for his reelection in Pennsylvania.