Specter Hitting Up Obama for Administration Job

Outgoing Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Penn., is asking for a job from the White House, according to ABC News’ Jake Tapper.

Specter reportedly is saying that he would like to remain in public service after his Senate term ends at the end of this session. White House officials are keeping an open mind about possible job openings for him.

Specter, who was defeated in his March primary by Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Penn., is a close friend of Vice President Joe Biden and someone praised for his leadership in pushing for greater funding for the National Institutes of Health.

The job discussions are far from anything other than preliminary, and were not part of any "deal" when Specter switched parties and began supporting President Obama's agenda in earnest, Tapper reports.

Neither the White House nor Specter had any comment.

But talk of such a job is raising eyebrows among Specter’s Republican Senate colleagues. They’re taking a close look at his recent votes. For instance, Specter seemed not particularly impressed with Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, whose nomination as Solicitor General Specter opposed last year. This week he announced support for her Supreme Court nomination.