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Not too often does a concerned resident get to express her situation directly to someone who might make a difference. But that's exactly what uninsured Baby Boomer Holly Holdren got to do when U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter held a town hall meeting with area Democrats Wednesday evening.

"Holly, I think we're going to cover you," he said.

Specter received a standing ovation from a 100-plus crowd gathered in a meeting room at the Hampton Inn.

He is scheduled to meet Cambria County Democrats in Johnstown today.

Specter said a top priority is passing a health care initiative.

"Let's do it," he said. "Let's not have a filibuster."

Specter said he supports research and sees preventative care as the way to cutting health care costs.

A woman in the crowd thanked Specter for his support of medical research. She was wearing a pink, purple and red bracelet for breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, heart disease and said she also supported Type I diabetes.

Specter has had his own battle with illness. He said he is feeling fine after chemotherapy treatments for his ongoing battle against Hodgkin's lymphoma cancer.

"We need some research funding," she said.

Specter said he is remaining in the political arena for just such matters.

He might also make a difference for the gay community.

"I don't think the issue of sexual preference is anybody's business," Specter said to a question about the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

He said the standard is due for a change, and if anybody understands change, it might be Specter who switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat in April.

He said he has voted his conscience and has sided with Democrats more often than Republicans.

"That is what a senator is supposed to do on the issues," he said.

He said more Republicans were suggesting the switch than Democrats.

"I feel very comfortable and proud to be," he said.

Blair County Democratic Party chairman Frank Rosenhoover said the town hall meeting was an opportunity for a face-to-face meeting and to let people know his reasons behind the switch.

"He wants the people to know he turned Democrat for very significant principle reasons," Rosenhoover said.

Rosenhoover said Specter brings experience, power and credibility to the party.

Jo Ann Nardelli said he looks at an issue from all sides and she appreciates his pro-union stance. She said she had met the senator before, and his knowledge of the state he represents made an impression on her.

"I also like the stability of him being in there that long," she said. "I'm definitely going to be supporting Sen. Specter."

Mirror Staff Writer Amanda Clegg is at 949-7030.