PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Sen. Susan Collins of Maine says she’s “extremely surprised and disappointed” at the decision by fellow Republican Sen. Arlen Specter to leave his party and align with the Democrats.

Collins said in a statement Tuesday that she has great respect for Specter, whom she described as a leading moderate voice in the Senate.

Collins, who won re-election in November with 61 percent of the vote, said she believes Specter’s decision “is more a reflection of Pennsylvania politics than anything else.”

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