ALABAMA DISTRICT GOES GOP FIRST TIME IN 150 YEARS

GRIFFITH CITES HEALTH CARE TAKE OVER AS MAIN REASON FOR SWITCH

First term Democrat Congressman from Alabama's 1st District Rep. Parker Griffith made it official today. In a press conference in Huntsville, he formally announced that he was switching his party registration to Republican, and would be running for reelection under the GOP banner. The move caught many Washington insiders by surprise, due to the timing. However, Griffith has been hinting at such a move since the summer. Back in July he gained some minor media coverage for vowing not to vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker next time. In November, after the off-year elections in Virginia and New Jersey, he quietly told Washington media not to list him as a Democrat, but rather as a "Blue Dog Independent."

According to Politico: Griffith will become the first Republican [ever] to hold the historically Democratic, Huntsville-based district [in history].

The reasons for Griffith's switch?

In his press conference he "blast[ed] the Democratic health care bill as a prime reason for his decision to switch parties." Griffith is a radiation oncologist.

Politico also notes that Griffith was 1 of only 11 Dem Congressmen to vote against the Stimulus. Also, Griffith, who is strong on Military issues, was very displeased with the Obama administration's decision in October to pull the missile sheild out of Eastern Europe.

Griffith's district has been trending Republican, and his reelection now seems assured.