Specter had been a Republican senator up until last year, when he switched to the Democratic Party, with the backing of President Barack Obama.

VOA: standard.2010.05.19

So Wells Fargo switched to fulltime banking.

VOA: standard.2010.03.11

"For a couple hundred years we've had names which have switched gender but they almost always switch from male to female.

VOA: special.2009.07.06

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter who switched parties from Republican to Democrat earlier this year says the Democratic Party leadership had no choice.

VOA: standard.2009.12.27

Specter's announcement was welcomed by White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, who said Specter's support would be important in implementing President Obama's economic plan: "Let me repeat what the president told Senator Specter this morning, that he has the president's full support, that he is thrilled that he switched parties and is a Democrat and that we look forward to working as we have on the Recovery and Reinvestment Plan with Senator Specter,"

VOA: standard.2009.04.28