I think we might be better off being in the minority than being dependent on Chafee in a 50-50 Senate.
I think being dependent on Chaffee in a 50-50 Senate would have meant being in the minority in a 49-51 Senate. I just have a gut feeling he had a deal with Schumer to switch in that case. No inside knowledge or anything like that, just Schumer's comments on one of the Sunday shows that this was the must-win seat for the Dems. Being naturally suspicious, I assumed he wanted the Republicans to pour money into that seat that would have been better spent elsewhere, because he knew he'd have that seat if it was decisive anyway. So call me a cynic! ;-)