WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. Arlen Specter, a life-long Republican from Pennsylvania, announced this morning that he is switching political parties and will run for re-election as a Democrat in 2010.

The move would give Democrats the 60-seat filibuster-proof majority they have been seeking, assuming Al Franken succeeds in Minnesota and is sworn in as Senator, replacing Sen. Norm Coleman, who has appealed Franken’s apparent victory to the state Supreme Court.

While not a complete surprise for those who have followed the notoriously independent legislator throughout his career, the announcement has shaken the capitol to its core, and the television cable networks were immediately awash with speculation about why Specter has made this announcment and what it will mean.

Initial reports suggest that in exchange for making the switch, the Democratic party will not field or support another candidate in next year’s Senate race in Pennsylvania. There has reportedly been no promise by the Democratic leadership to give Specter a Chairmanship of a committee is the current Congress, but that that could change in the next Congress.

“I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary,” Specter said in the statement. “I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.”

“Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right,” he added. “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.”

Only four weeks ago, Specter was quoted as saying that he intends to remain a Republican, implying that his independent voice was more needed on that side of the aisle, and reasserting his belief that a vigorous two-party system was essential to our democratic process. In making the switch, however, the senator was equally insistent that his storied independence and fearlessness to express it will remain.

As of post time, there was no indication on the Specter’s official website of the decision, the announcement had not been posted to it and the senator is still identified as a Republican.