Parker Griffith

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Rep. Parker Griffith, a freshman Democrat from Alabama, will announce today that he is switching parties to become a Republican, a GOP congressional leadership source tells CBS News Capitol Hill producer Jill Jackson.

Griffith has voted against all major Democratic initiatives this year, including the stimulus, cap and trade and health care bills.

He's also spoken out against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying that he would not vote for her to be speaker again.

Politico, which first reported the story, notes that although Griffith's northern Alabama district has never elected a Republican for Congress, Republican Sen. John McCain won the district with 61 percent of the vote in last year's presidential election. The district includes Huntsville.

Griffith won the seat last year by a three-point margin over Republican Wayne Parker. He replaced the retiring Rep. Bud Cramer, who had also been discussed as a possible party-switcher.

A radiation oncologist, Griffith will reportedly cite the Democrats' health care plans as a reason for his switch. Politico reports that the Republican leadership has been courting him since the town hall protests over the summer.

The success of Republicans in the off-year elections last month also appears to be a reason for his decision to switch parties. He told Politico then that he wanted to be called an independent Blue Dog, not a Democrat. "I should be nervous," he added.

As Jill Jackson reports, however, it should also be remembered that Griffith's switch will not significantly alter the balance of power in the House chamber: Democrats will now have 257 members and the Republicans will have 176.

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[MrJackstuff]

I knew as soon as he started talking after his election that he would soon switch parties. And his voting was straightline Republican Conservative! You cant tell me he did not know what the liberal democrat party stood for when he chose to run as a democrat! NOW! he claims he was an Independent!! I dont think so...