While Joe Lieberman has said that he will caucus with the Democrats, the newly-minted “Independent Democrat” is not pledging fidelity forever, leaving the balance of Congressional power solely in his hands.

HARTFORD, Conn. — 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.” – The Advocate

As the article points out, a defection by Lieberman would leave the Senate at a 50-50 split, with the deciding vote going to VP Cheney. And even with the ripe plum of Democratic committee chairmanships dangling before him, the CLI co-chairman might find himself torn between the opportunity to wield the gavel, and his neo-con-inspired dreams for the Middle East.

~Stef