PHILADELPHIA — A Pennsylvania newspaper says former U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter has suggested Democrats think about supporting Hillary Clinton rather than Barack Obama for president in 2012.

The Philadelphia Inquirer says Specter was asked in a Tuesday meeting with the Inquirer editorial board whether Clinton should replace Vice President Joe Biden as Obama’s running mate.

The paper says Specter called that “the second-best alternative.” He continued “A better alternative is to make Hillary the nominee. As long as we’re talking about dumping, let’s go to the core problem.”

Asked if he was serious that Democrats should dump Obama, Specter said he wasn’t getting involved in what he called “that selection problem.” And the Republican-turned-Democrat said Obama should keep Biden, whom he called “a very effective voice” for the administration.