Barbara Hafer, the (Republican)Pennsylvania State Treasurer, switched to the Democratic Party yesterday. She had backed Ed Rendell when he ran successfully for governor in 2002, and is a refugee from the liberal wing of the GOP.
She is now in position to challenge Rick Santorum, one of the leading Christian Right Soldiers, when he goes up for reelection in 2006. She could be a formidable opponent, with a statewide name recognition and following. His defeat would be a significant repudiation of his extreme, homophobic obsession with gays, as evidence by his notorious comments last year.
Watch your back, Rick.
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/local/7602336.htm