Party-switchers beware: it ain't easy

The Fix:

"History suggests, however, that today's winners are tomorrow's losers, as recent party-switchers (think Sen. Arlen Specter, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Rep. Parker Griffith) have an awful history of winning their next elections.

To wit:

* Of the last 12 party-switchers in the House, only half won their next elections. Four -- including Griffith -- went on to lose their new party's nomination, and two went on to lose badly in statewide primaries.

* Of the last four party-switchers in the Senate, only Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) won reelection. Specter and Sen. Bob Smith (N.H.) went on to lose primaries; one -- Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.) -- retired."