Jeffords Delays Party Switch Announcement

W A S H I N G T O N, May 23 -- Keeping Capitol Hill in suspense for yet another day, Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont now will not reveal whether he is leaving the GOP — and throwing control of the Senate to Democrats — until Thursday.

Jeffords, 67, had said Tuesday he would end speculation and announce his intentions today. But he changed course and delayed an announcement until Thursday, when he can be in Vermont to speak directly to his constituents.

"I want to go home to my people," Jeffords said.

GOP Staffers: Jeffords Will Jump

Several sources said Jeffords has made up his mind and is leaving the GOP — most likely to become an independent. Jeffords has even, according to The Washington Post, informed his staff of the planned move.

If he does join the Democrats, they would retake control of the Senate, 51-49. Though the Senate is now split 50-50, Vice President Dick Cheney's tie-breaking vote tilts the balance of power to Republicans.

Though Jeffords' defection seemed all but certain late today, Republicans still held out hope that his mind could be changed. GOP moderates pleaded for him to stay. Sources told ABCNEWS Jeffords has been offered a leadership position if he sticks with the GOP.

Move Would Be Bad News for Bush

A switch by Jeffords, who was first elected to the Senate in 1988, would be bad news for President Bush, whose agenda faces substantial opposition from Democrats. Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., would take over the Senate and prominent liberals would take over key committees.

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On Tuesday, Jeffords met with Cheney on Capitol Hill and later with Bush at the White House in a last-ditch effort by the GOP's standard-bearers to get him to stay.

But Democrats have been aggressively courting Jeffords for weeks. Perhaps the most moderate Republican in the Senate, Jeffords has often been at odds with many of his more conservative GOP colleagues.

If Jeffords does switch, it can be viewed as much as a slap at Bush as an ideologically driven decision.