This proposal is clever in that it greatly increases the (former) state's power in the senate, but does so by splitting the state's senators 50/50 between both

This proposal is clever in that it greatly increases the (former) state's power in the senate, but does so by splitting the state's senators 50/50 between both parties. That would net republicans 2 more senators than they have today -- so if the state passes it, I imagine the republicans in congress might actually allow it to happen. This would change the dynamic for presidential elections dramatically (thanks to our byzantine way of selecting a president); pulling away several "secure" democratic votes to republicans. I believe republicans already have a electoral vote per capita advantage, as seen in the 2000 election. Also, a 55 star flag doesn't look so terrible: http://i.imgur.com/5yKPsUR.png http://i.imgur.com/5yKPsUR.png