Does it make ANY sense to switch to the minority party?? It may make him more comfortable with his colleagues but as far as other perks of being a senator go, I would think you are much better off being in the majority.
Since they are oh so pricipled and oh so independent-minded, perhaps they should resign their seats and run without a party affiliation.
When is he up for re-election? One lesson of Tuesday was that the entire Northeast is solidly Democratic.