If the Republicans hold 50 seats, wouldn’t nominally independent Angus King or a centrist Democrat like Joe Manchin have a lot of power in the choice of new leaders? Couldn’t they threaten to be like Jumpin’ Jim Jeffords in 2001 and bolt the party if they felt were too extremist on any issue or appointee?
I was hoping Manchin could be persuaded to caucus with Republicans. But I’ve been reading twitter tonight and the Dems don’t seem worried at all that he would do that.