US President Barack Obama met with Senator Arlen Specter on Wednesday, one day after the Pennsylvania representative defected from the Republicans and joined the Democrats, according to dpa. "I'm thrilled to have Arlen in the Democratic caucus," Obama said. Specter, 79, announced that he was abandoning the Republicans after 29 years of service in the Senate in the party. Specter was facing a formidable challenge to remain the Republican nominee in 2010, largely because he angered conservatives by backing Obama's economic stimulus plan. The defection tilted the Democratic advantage in the 100 seat chamber to 59-40, with the outcome of one race in the November 4 election bogged down in courts over a recount.
