Meghan McCain, de dochter van senator John McCain, die is afgestapt van een aantal orthodoxe onderwerpen, zoals het homohuwelijk, en daardoor wel kansen had binnen de GOP, liet weten dat ze teleurgesteld is nu Arlen Specter de Republikeinse partij heeft verlaten. “He had let us down by leaving the party”, aldus McCain op haar blog voor de Daily Beast. “Let me be clear: I have a lot of respect for Sen. Specter”, aldus McCain. “But I also can’t help but feel like he’s let us down. I’m sure this was a long, hard decision. The polls were looking very bleak in his primary contest. His probable opponent was nearly 20 points ahead in many polls. And I understand how he’s been made to feel like an outcast by a small, vocal group. Still, this was an opportunity for Specter to hold his ground and set an example for progressive-minded Republicans trying to overcome one of their biggest obstacles: winning the party primaries….We need courageous Republicans more than ever. And this week, Sen. Specter turned his back.” Radio presentator Rush Limbaugh riep John McCain en zijn dochter op ook de Republikeinse partij te verlaten omdat dan zo de “real Republicans” over blijven.