This is good news:

For those writing Republican centrism’s obituary after Arlen Specter’s party switch, holster your quills.

In fact, if the next few weeks go well for the GOP, it might pave the way for a whole new chapter in the left flank of the right-leaning party.

The month of May will be huge, recruiting-wise, for Senate Republicans, with decisions expected from several big-name candidates, including Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, Rep. Mark Kirk (Ill.) and possibly Rep. Mike Castle (Del.).

All would instantly be formidable — with Crist and Castle favored at the outset — and all are noted centrists. They would not only give Republicans a chance to win again, but give Republican centrists a chance to be a force again.

This is a tremendously important development. The GOP has to be a “big tent” party, in which moderates, centrists, and moderate conservatives feel at home. (more…)

When Senator Arlen Specter defected to the Democratic Party last week, he explained he did so because internal polling showed he would lose the GOP’s primary election to Congressman Pat Toomey, who challenged the fiscally liberal 79-year old for his seat.

The most recent polls among Republican voters had Specter trailing by 21%. Indeed, a significant gap.| MORE ›

Could Senator Arlen Specter face a Republican opponent next year who could actually win a statewide election? Perhaps so:

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge is considering running for the Republican Senate nomination in his home state, according to a senior Republican aide with knowledge of the situation.| MORE ›

The Orwellian “Employee Free Choice Act” which would strip non-unionized workers of their rights to a secret ballot outside the prying eyes of union enforcers organizers appears seriously endangered after its last Republican enabler is poised to support a filibuster blocking it.| MORE ›

The Philidelphia Inquirer has a fantastic article up about the polling numbers Senator Arlen Specter saw shortly before he switched from the Republican to the Democratic Party. In short: these numbers and the conversations the PI had with several insiders show that Specter had only one reason to defect – he wanted to hang on to his seat in the Senate.| MORE ›

Senator Arlen Specter is in trouble at home in Pennsylvania. A conservative, former Congressman Pat Toomey, has said he wants to challenge him for the nomination of his party, the GOP. Normally, sitting senators are only challenged by ambitious individuals from the other party. Not so with Specter.| MORE ›