This isn’t a good way for Arlen Specter to win over his new friends: “He voted against the Democrats in his first two big votes since the switch, opposing the Democratic budget and helping defeat a measure to allow bankruptcy judges to modify mortgages for troubled homeowners. And on Tuesday night, he retracted a statement, made in an interview, in which he said the Minnesota courts should rule in favor of the Republican, Norm Coleman, in the state’s disputed Senate race.” Behind the scenes, Specter is scrambling to find money to save the jobs of several aides after he lost the payroll authority that came with his committee and subcommittee chairmanships when Democrats stripped him of seniority. Tired, perhaps, of the scrutiny, Specter canceled an appearance with Larry King on Wednesday night.