On the other hand, I would contend neither aspect of Specter's announcement today is all that newsworthy.  Here's why.  First, Specter's bolt only formalizes the filibuster-proof status of Senate Democrats.  With 59 seats already in their fold and at least three RINOs - Specter and Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine - at their disposal, Democrats had little real fear of the GOP mustering a filibuster.  Second, Specter has never been a conservative stalwart.  Long the object of wrath among party faithful, Specter's "independent" streak fits just as well, if not better, in his new party as it did in his former one.  And with his imminent demise becoming clearer as next year's primary battle peaks over the horizon, a shift to the Democrats makes perfect sense.  He was never a true Republican, so, in his case, there is not much of a Republican track record to overturn.

I don't fault Arlen Specter for switching parties and his move probably won't affect the partisan makeup of the Senate after the mid-term elections.  (Toomey would be the GOP nominee in either case and would most likely lose the general election in either case.)  The bright side of this outcome for me is that Specter is no longer a GOP senator - I don't even have to wait another year and a half for it to happen.  Frankly, I'm glad to see him go.

If Tedisco eaks ahead in the end to claim a victory, it would give the GOP 179 seats in the House, 77 seats less than the Democrats.  It would also provide a glimmer of positive light to a party lost in electoral darkness over the last 2 1/2 years.  At a minimum, Tedisco's win would represent a takeover in a formerly-Republican district recently trending toward the Democrats.  Republicans, of course, hope Tedisco will prevail and that his victory will signal a larger change - that the blue wave of 2006 and 2008 is at long last subsiding.  On the other hand, should Murphy hold on and win, Democrats will breathe a sigh of relief that this strong Republican challenge yielded yet another special election Democratic triumph.

Trouble is, there is plenty of opposition to allowing the democratic process to run its course on this issue.  In a state where a recent poll showed less than 30% of Iowa voters support same-sex marriage, the bill is stuck in committee and may not make it out.  Our task in this critical hour, as Americans who support the traditional definition of marriage, is two-fold.  First, I encourage all of you to do as I have done and send an email to Iowa legislators who represent pivotal votes.  The National Organization for Marriage has published a very convenient form email that took me less than two minutes to send.  Please visit the site and send that email. 

Second, if you have any friends or family in Iowa, please forward this link to them.  Any email received by these legislators will matter, but those received from constituents will carry more weight.  There is a war raging in this country for its very heart and soul.  Those standing for traditional values have won few battles in this war over the last decade.  If you've ever yearned to make a difference but didn't know how, this is your answer; this is your chance.  Click on the link, send the email, contact your friends.  If enough of us do, the battle for Iowa's marriage amendment can be won.