Is Sen. Ben Nelson, Already Key Swing Vote, Switching Parties?

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Late Friday night, Senator Ben Nelson announced he would be going against his Democratic colleagues and voting against Elena Kagan’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Is he preparing to bail on the party altogether? (via Swampland)

TIME’s Joe Klein considers the fallout of such a move: “I suspect that, if the Republicans make substantial gains in the midterm elections, Nelson could be up for grabs next fall–it certainly would be easier for him to get reelected in Nebraska as a Republican and, if the Democrats’ Senate advantage is cut to one or two seats, he could be offered the moon by the Republicans to switch.”

Klein also considers the possibility that an Independent Charlie Crist wins in Florida, leaving three possible independents with the power to control the majority of the body. Read the full analysis.