Actually, it's probably a smart move based on an article I saw yesterday. Pretty much all the people planning on running for his vacated seat, all hold current positions within SC's govt or are already in the house of reps representing SC. They have to declare for the special primary on by July 21. Primary is held and that basically leaves them just weeks to campaign against the dem nominee. If they are having to show up in the senate to vote all week, none will have much opportunity to campaign for the primary or the general election against the democrat nominee. To me it makes sense to have someone outside of existing govt, take the seat for the next 100 days so that the rest can fight it out. She's going to vote how she's told to vote anyway. Just like Lindsay was.