>I saw Arlen Spector is switching parties. I knew he was unpopular with the more conservative Republicans but didn't see this coming.

I'm not horribly surprised. Spector has always been fairly moderate and the Republicans have been increasingly unfriendly to the moderate side of their party in recent years.

Also, fwiw, Spector started out as a Democrat; he was a staffer to the Warren Commission. He switched when the Democratic machine in Philly wouldn't back him for DA back in the late 60's/early 70's, and managed to get elected. (He may have been the last Republican elected in a city-wide race, other than the two citywide Council seats mandated for the minority party.)

IAC, Spector was facing a strong challenger in the primary, a guy who almost beat him 5 years ago. I'll bet the deal he made for the change was that the Democrats won't endorse someone against him next year.

Tamar