Reply #7: Jeffords switching did have a big impact

[mike923]

It shifted the advantage the GOP had to make the numbers even, and since Gore was the President of the Senate at the time and the ability to break ties, it in effect gave the Dems control over the Senate. I believe prior to the swtich, the GOP had a 50 to 49 plus one independant. After the switch it became 49/49/2. Thus the heads of each committee went from being held by republicans to democrats.

I can't think of any other switch in history that had as much of an impact.