he's now the kid that follows around the cool kids even though they pick on him. He's got one hell of a bloody nose in his future unless he wakes up.
No offense but BS. He has them in his pocket. He can always stick it to them by claiming his official I-Independant status. When was the last official Senator with an official "Independent" moniker?
Joe is a liberal by record - there is no doubt. What he is practical about is whether one supports the liberal or conservative domestic agenda, neither will matter a smidgen if national security isn't the top priority. It's the chicken-and-the-egg thang.
And if the Dems run so far left (accent on anti-semitism tolerance) Joe could very well stick it to them by jumping ship, claim the title "Liberal Republican" and play the role of mediator between the two parties.
After Joe wins he will have the moves of a Queen while the Dems will be stuck with the sluggish progress of Pawns.