Lieberman refuses to close door on switching parties

Sen. Joe Lieberman on Sunday repeated his pledge to caucus with Senate Democrats when the 110th Congress convenes in January, but refused to slam the door on possibly moving to the Republican side of the aisle.

Asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" if he might follow the example of Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont, who left the Republicans in 2001 and became an independent, ending Republican control of the U.S. Senate, Lieberman refused to discount the possibility.

"I'm not ruling it out but I hope I don't get to that point," he said. "And I must say – and with all respect to the Republicans who supported me in Connecticut – nobody ever said, 'We're doing this because we want you to switch over. We want you to do what you think is right and good for our state and country,' and I appreciate that." …

Some national observers have called him potentially the most powerful person in the Senate, because he is beholden to no party. But Lieberman also knows that if he wants to become chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, he needs to stay a loyal Democrat.