Arlen Specter's surprise switch to the Democratic party has sent shockwaves through the American political landscape.
The move pushes Democrats close to the filibuster-proof majority in the Senate needed to pass Barack Obama's legislation.
Although liberals are giddy over the prospect of not having to work with Republicans, is the change bad for the balance of power in Washington?
Share your thoughts by sending us a response on our GuardianUS Twitter page. You can do this by logging on to your Twitter account, typing @GuardianUS and then your comment of 140 characters or less. Of course, you can always comment on this blog post.
