Ben Frumin May 10, 2010, 12:55 PM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) has some explaining to do.

Last year, then-Republican Specter opposed Elena Kagan’s confirmation as solicitor general. He joined 30 other Republicans while all the Democrats voted in favor of her nomination.

But now that Specter’s a Democrat, and Kagan is the Supreme Court nominee of a Democratic president…

In a statement today, Specter praised Kagain, and seemed to lay the foundation to supporting her confirmation.

“I voted against her for Solicitor General because she wouldn’t answer basic questions about her standards for handling that job,” Specter said. “It is a distinctly different position than that of a Supreme Court Justice.”

Here’s the full statement:

There is no doubt that Elena Kagan has exemplary academic and professional credentials. And she has been a pioneer for women, serving as the country’s first female Solicitor General and as the first woman to be Dean of Harvard Law School. I applaud the President for nominating someone who has a varied and diverse background outside the circuit court of appeals.

I voted against her for Solicitor General because she wouldn’t answer basic questions about her standards for handling that job. It is a distinctly different position than that of a Supreme Court Justice.

I have an open mind about her nomination and hope she will address important questions related to her position on matters such as executive power, warrantless wiretapping, a woman’s right to choose, voting rights and congressional power.

And lest we forget, Specter is locked in a tough primary fight with Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA). The current TPM Poll Average for the race still shows Specter ahead, but by a significantly reduced margin of 44.6% to 40.7%.

Arlen Specter, Elena Kagan, Supreme Court