After just four months of Republican control of both Congress and the White House, the Democrats might win back control of the Senate without an election.

Senator Jim Jeffords, R-Vt., will be announcing his party affiliation this afternoon. The moderate Republican has been contemplating whether he should continue to serve as a Republican or change to a Democrat or an independent.

Matt Potoski, assistant professor of political science, said he suspects Jeffords will leave the GOP for several reasons.

“First, his ideology. Sen. Jeffords is probably the most liberal Republican in the Senate,” he said.

Potoski said the state of Vermont tends to elect more and more Democrats. He said Jeffords might have an easier time getting re-elected as a Democrat, even though he did not have a tough time getting elected as a Republican.

“[Vermont residents] like to think of themselves as very independent minded,” he said. “In some places a politician might be criticized for being disloyal if he or she changed parties. In Vermont, switching parties might win Sen. Jeffords kudos for being a free thinker.”

Aaron Fister, former producer of Politics Unlimited, said Jeffords is being shut out by other Republicans because he is a moderate.

“The Republican Party is either getting more conservative or shutting out its moderate wing,” said Fister, senior in management information systems.

Potoski said the Democrats will probably offer some benefits if Jeffords decides to leave the GOP.

“In the past, legislators who have switched parties have been rewarded with choice committee assignments,” he said. “Some have even been given committee chairs.”

Jeffords’ decision may have a very powerful impact on the Senate, especially the Senate committees.

Currently, the Senate is tied, 50-50, between the two parties. The Republicans are in control because Vice President Dick Cheney, a Republican, casts the final vote in the event of a tie.

Fister said if Jeffords goes Democrat or independent, the “Democrats will be in complete control over every committee.” He said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle would likely be the new Senate majority leader.

A fear among Republicans is if they lose the majority, it will be more difficult to pass President George W. Bush’s agenda.

Potoski said it will not make much a difference when it comes to putting forth the president’s agenda because it is already difficult.

“Whichever ends up the majority party, President Bush will still need support from both Democrats and Republicans,” he said. “Losing Republican control of the House would be a bigger problem. Political parties are more important in the House than in the Senate.”

Democrats are making an effort to encourage other “moderate Republicans” to join Jeffords in leaving the GOP. They are saying there is no room in the Republican Party for moderates.

Fister said he can understand why some people might think that. He said other “moderate Republicans,” like John McCain, have been looked on as if they were outcasts in the party.

Potoski said both the parties have tended to be less accepting of moderates for quite some time.

“Over the past 30 to 40 years, both parties have become more ideologically pure,” he said. “There are fewer conservative Democrats and fewer liberal Republicans in Congress.”

Rumors as to whom the Republicans might try to get from the Democrats circulated through out the day Wednesday. Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., who has supported the Bush tax cut plan, seemed to be the top prospect.

Miller has said he is not going to join the GOP, but Fister said it is not over yet.

“People in his home state are calling him and telling him he needs to switch parties,” Fister said.