WASHINGTON — In nearly 30 years as a Senate Republican, Arlen Specter was tough to pin down, frequently breaking ranks with his party and giving its leadership fits.

Yet in the half-year since he crossed the aisle, Mr. Specter has become a remarkably reliable Democratic vote.

Wednesday marks the six-month anniversary of Mr. Specter’s party switch, which came after he sided with Democrats to approve the controversial stimulus bill and he knew that he wouldn’t win a primary race for a sixth term as a Republican.

Since then, Mr. Specter has been lauded by Democrats and has seen his campaign coffers swell with help from President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden — who have campaigned with him.

But his prized seniority on committees has been stripped, as has his status as a coveted swing vote. As leadership and the media lavish attention on moderate Republicans Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, and centrist Democrats such as Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Specter speaks out in favor of the “public option” and is considered a sure vote when a merged health care bill hits the Senate floor.

According to a Congressional votes database compiled by The Washington Post, Mr. Specter has voted with the Democrats 94.2 percent of the time since switching parties — an identical figure to his fellow Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey Jr. and in the middle range of his party’s caucus.

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