Editing Arlen Specter (section)

===1996 presidential bid===
{{Main|1996 United States presidential election}}
On March 31, 1995, Specter announced his candidacy for President of the United States, to challenge the incumbent [[Bill Clinton]]. He entered the race as an alternative to the stereotypical religious conservative image. He was critical of [[Patrick J. Buchanan|Pat Buchanan]], [[Pat Robertson]], and [[Ralph Reed]], saying all three were far too conservative.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4president.org/speeches/1996/arlenspecter1996announcement.htm|title=Arlen Specter 1996 Presidential Announcement Speech|publisher=4president.org|date=March 30, 1995|access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref>

His campaign focused on balancing the federal budget, strict crime laws, and establishing relations with [[North Korea]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/31/us/joining-race-specter-attacks-the-right.html|work=The New York Times|title=Joining Race, Specter Attacks the Right|first=Richard L.|last=Berke|date=March 31, 1995}}</ref> His candidacy was not expected to succeed in winning the Republican nomination due to the overwhelmingly large number of [[social conservative]]s in the Republican Party. He was, however, able to gain support. Fellow Pennsylvania Senator [[Rick Santorum]] was supportive of his candidacy.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jaffe|first=Alexandra|title=Santorum: Backing Specter 'wasn't one of my prouder moments'|via=[[HighBeam Research]]|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2613853041.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602092830/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2613853041.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 2, 2013|access-date=March 18, 2013|newspaper=[[National Journal]]|date=March 19, 2012|location=Washington D.C.}}</ref> Other supportive Republicans were hopeful Specter could trim the party's "far-right fringe". Although his campaign was ultimately unsuccessful at wooing conservatives, it was widely believed he could have had a strong showing among independents. On November 23, 1995, before the start of the primaries, Specter suspended his campaign to endorse [[Kansas]] Senator [[Bob Dole]].