Specter urges caution for Bush, discourages nominating anti-abortion judges.

Let the GOP infighting begin. Arlen Specter (R-PA) is in line to become the next Senate Judiciary Committee chairman which has jurisdiction over judicial nominations. With the Senate still closely divided and a lame duck president, moderate Republican Senators like Specter, Lincoln Chafee, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, Chuck Hagel and John McCain may be using their clout more than ever to hold back an extreme right wing agenda.

Chafee (R-RI), who cast a symbolic vote for George H.W. Bush in Tuesday's election, said he would consider leaving the Republican Party if George W. Bush was re-elected.

UPDATE: Specter clarified his comments in a press release today. He may have gotten an earful from colleagues, or become afraid the media attention would jeopardize his chairmanship.