http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=536&e=5&u=/ap/20040807/ap_on_go_co/louisiana_congressNEW ORLEANS - In 48 hours, Rep. Rodney Alexander (news, bio, voting record) went from Democrat to Republican, friend to foe — or foe to friend, depending on your political persuasion.
Democrats reacted to the news by calling the first-term congressman a turncoat and a coward. They must now gain another seat, 12 in all, to win back the House this fall. The count today: Democrats 205, Republicans 229.
A new ally, on the other hand, rang him up Friday to say congratulations. President Bush (news - web sites), according to White House spokesman Scott McClellan, welcomed Alexander to the GOP and wished him well.
Alexander's about-face came about in two days, but had really been in the works for two years.
After announcing his new affiliation Friday afternoon, Alexander said he had been struggling with his conservative votes for his entire term — backing the Bush tax cuts as well as the war in Iraq (news - web sites) — and noted they had brought him criticism from Democrats.
"I just decided it would be best for me to switch parties, that I would be more effective in the 5th District in the state of Louisiana as a Republican," he said.
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