I say she waits until the gavel drops. If we get 53 Senators, she'll stay. If we only get 51, she's a sitting and willing target for the Dems.
That's true. The more I think about it, the more I realize she has more power as a Republican, than she would as a Dem. Plus, I looked at her last election results - 2006, a horrible year for Republicans - and she STILL won with almost 75% of the vote. I didn't realize her favorability was so commanding in her home state. She's not going to be unseated by a conservative challenger. So, she can afford to throw her own party under the bus.
Snowe, Collins and the others are the reason that looking at the Senate in “Republican vs. Democrat” terms is pointless.
There is a lot more clarity in looking at the Senate as “liberal vs. conservative” or even more broadly “statist vs. non-statist”
I realize that R vs. D is how committee chairmanships and such are doled out and for that reason it’s important. I’m just pointing out that when we look at how votes on legislation will break out - it’s the Conservatives in the Republican party vs. Liberals from both parties.
All the more reasons to “win it all” for conservatism, “big time” and long-term (forever, if possible)!