The Democrat Party loses one of its members as Rep. Parker Griffith, a freshman Democrat from Alabama, will announce today that he’s switching parties to become a Republican.  Whispers are that more Democrats are thinking of jumping ship as their party turns more liberal.

According to two senior GOP aides familiar with the decision, the announcement will take place this afternoon in Griffith’s district in northern Alabama.  Expect Democrats to attack the character of Griffith.

Griffith’s party switch comes on the eve of a pivotal congressional health care vote and will send shivers through a Democratic House Caucus that has already been nervous by the recent retirements of a handful of members who, like Griffith, hail from districts that offer prime pickup opportunities for the GOP in 2010.

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