PREDICTION: If the Senate winds up 51(D)-49(R) after Nov. 6.

[Sqee]

AND Joe Manchin is re-elected...

Manchin will jump ship and finally become a Republican In Name Also.

[pstokely]

1. what if it's 50-50?

could Murkowski go indie?

[Sqee]

2. Doubt it.

Many Dems went over to the dark side.

I only ever recall a single R that went to I and caucused with the Dems.

[Recursion]

5. Jeffords of Vermont, in W's first term

I remember that day well

[Sqee]

6. Only one I recall in my lifetime.

And I lived through Watergate, too.

[Recursion]

8. More recently Brad Ashford of NE, in the House

[BumRushDaShow]

11. Lincoln Chafee almost did but lost to Sheldon Whitehouse

afterwhich Chafee did become an (I), albeit right after he lost his seat in the Senate.

[MichMary]

12. Arlen Specter, during Obama's first term n/t

[FakeNoose]

22. Specter returned to the Democratic Party in 2009

When he was a DA in Philadelphia and then as a Senator for Pennsylvania, he was Republican. But in 2009 he switched parties during his final term.

As a young man Specter was a Democrat and he was usually considered "liberal-ish" during his Republican years.

[Jersey Devil]

4. She got elected as an Indie

She was beaten in the primary and won with a write in campaign. Technically, she IS an Indie now who caucuses with the Republicans.

[sweetloukillbot]

21. She ran as a Republican write in, I thought

She never left the party, just ran as a sore loser when she lost the nom.

[Jersey Devil]

23. I thought you had to be nominated by a party to run for the party

She can call herself a Republican, but as a write in I don't think she would be permitted to use the party label. There was a Republican on that ballot running for the same office.

[Lunabell]

3. Probably.

[musicblind]

7. I truly do not believe that. Maybe I'll be wrong and if I am, you can drag me for it.

But I think he would have switched months ago if he was going to switch because that would have been the most politically expedient time to do it.

[Sqee]

9. Politically, he'd get more by throwing it back to the Repugnants after the election

He could name whatever committees he wanted to chair and would get all sorts of pork for back home.

[madinmaryland]

35. He could get the same thing from the Democrats.

And he does vote dem most of the time.

[Tavarious Jackson]

10. Ugggg. I bet you're right. Another Joe Liberman.... nt

[MichMary]

13. I thought he'd do it

after the Rs took the Senate in 2014.

[CincyDem]

14. At 51/49 he'll be the most powerful dem in the senate.

The only vote between sanity and pence.

[Sqee]

15. Nope, he'll become the most powerful R.

I would bet the farm on that.

HE is never to be trusted ever again.

[CincyDem]

17. I get your point ideologically.

But technically, if he's part of the Dem caucus at 51/49, he makes very current ranking member the chair of their respective committee...I get that he will vote with the Republican's 40-50% of the time but he's not going to be on every committee. And I'd be willing to give him what he wants to take the calendar from McConnell. I realize Schumer's job will be laced with bribes solely for WV but I'm willing to make that trade.

We'll see. To be honest, given the lineup in 2018, we should be so lucky to have our biggest issue be Joe Manchin.

[LonePirate]

16. I agree. The writing is on the wall as of today.

Voting for Kavanaugh means he is voting against everything the Democratic Party stands for nowadays.

[Raven123]

18. Really? Flipping to the minority party after you win and at the moment you can chair a committee?

Maybe, but the logic seems odd.

[Sqee]

19. The Repugnants will make him a much better offer.

And going 50-50 R gives the majority to the Repugnants.

All is a moot point, though, as I fully expect him to lose after this vote.

[SCantiGOP]

20. OP is ridiculous

You change parties to get into the Majority; nonsense to move INTO the minority party.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

25. He won't

Manchin owns the state party in WV wholesale. He won't give that up.
Also, if he jumps, he becomes just another Republican and loses attention.

[still_one]

28. You are right

[Johnny2X2X]

26. Hope you are right, but

When dictators and despots seize power in Democracies in history. The other side continues to play by the rules for far too long. If the Reps hold onto both houses it will be because they stole them. Dems are still playing Democracy, while Reps are playing totalitarianism.

[LovingA2andMI]

27. Yep...

Manchin will pull a Lieberman because he knows he's toast in the Democratic Party after this vote. And West Virginians won't care one bit and still vote for him. Hell, maybe even more so.

Which is why Manchin should be considered a LOST NOW and Democrats MUST TARGET another Republican seat in the Senate NOW or in 2020.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

29. I don't think so Squi.

[brooklynite]

30. Is that prediction based on anything other than anger?

[Jose Garcia]

31. It would have been politically advantageous for him to switch years ago.

Instead, he has taken the more difficult path of running as a Democrat in an increasingly red state.

[SoCalDem]

32. I think it will be 58R 42D or 56R 44D

[SoCalDem]

34. We'll know soon

I've seen this movie many times..