But the fact is that he does have an allegiance to their party. Can't he win as an independent, then announce he's becoming a democrat again a few months later? I would expect that he will be pressured into doing exactly that.
The rats can't pressure Joe to do anything. Joe's in the driver's seat now. He doesn't need rat money, he definitely doesn't need rat tactics, support or anything else from them, which he wouldn't get anyway. I'm betting he's going to get a lot of republican money and support.
Remember, he's just been thrown under the bus by the rat leadership who are now committed to campaigning for the one trick pony Lamont.
Joe's his own man now and he can tell the rat leadership to go piss up a rope. He may vote with them on many issues but from here on in, he's solid on the WOT. He can't be pressured to toe the rat line.