Those are fighting words to social conservatives, but Specter needn't be concerned. He's starting a fresh (and possibly final) six-year term, and it's hard to imagine his colleagues revoking his chairmanship while he's fighting cancer. That frees Specter to be himself: a centrist dealmaker. At a time when both parties are charging ideological hills, Specter likened legislating to chess.
"Part of the chess game is that if you get Democrats on certain key issues, you may lose Republicans," he said.
 
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Specter made no apologies for supporting a Democratic amendment to a recent bill restricting class-action lawsuits. On Social Security, he warned against "building up debt," as personal accounts would do. And he made clear that he is in no hurry to reconsider the appellate court nomination of William H. Pryor Jr. of Alabama, one of Bush's most controversial judicial choices.
Though lavishing plenty of blame on the opposition party, Specter was resolutely evenhanded. He said Democrats' filibusters of judicial candidates are "unprecedented" but quickly added: "There have been a lot of unprecedented items taken on both sides here."
The senior senator from Pennsylvania appeared thin and weak, but enthusiastic. When a questioner mentioned his overcoming past medical and political problems, Specter interjected: "Don't leave out squash."
Notably, Specter used the same words -- "this problem" -- to describe both his cancer and the Senate judiciary standoff. He was optimistic that chemo could cure his health. ("I'm going to beat this problem," he said.) He was less certain of avoiding radiation treatment for the Senate's judge problem.
"I'm going to exercise every last ounce of my energy to solve this problem without the nuclear option," he said. But energy is in limited supply now for Specter, who was perspiring after his news conference and walked slowly to the elevator. A knot of reporters followed him, some to ask more questions, others to wish him Godspeed.
"Senator," somebody called out as the elevator door was closing. "Good luck."
