GOP Senator To Specter: At Least I Don't Have To Campaign In Erie For You Anymore

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Penn.) met briefly with his former Republican colleagues Tuesday at their weekly lunch after announcing that he was leaving the party.

"We didn't have as energetic a meeting as we might typically have," said Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) after the gathering, in a bit of an understatement.

But Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) did find the silver lining, Specter told reporters.

"Senator Cochran said at least he wouldn't have to go to Erie anymore to campaign for me," said Specter to a round of laughter -- chuckling probably not shared by Erie residents who might wonder what's so wonderful about Mississippi.

Though Cochran won't be forced to go to Erie for campaign stops, Specter told the Huffington Post, Cochran was welcome there any time.

"He can go on his own now," said Specter.

Meanwhile, Specter will have to find new donors to sponsor his own trips to Erie in 2010.

Two Republican senators said they would take up Specter on his offer to return campaign contributions. Corker and Lamar Alexander, both of Tennessee, said they wanted their money back, Post Politics reported.

"Sen. Specter said he would return contributions made to him in this cycle, upon request. That's the right thing for him to do, and we will request a refund," Alexander said in a statement.

Ryan Grim is the author of the forthcoming book This Is Your Country On Drugs: The Secret History of Getting High in America

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