In Karl Rove’s view, Arlen Specter spent a lifetime in the mainstream of the Republican Party and then suddenly veered to the left.
Meanwhile, in Arlen Specter's view the GOP has moved far to the right:
Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.
By the way, Rove's claim that Specter has been a lifelong Republican is wrong -- Specter first joined the GOP in 1966.