1. If Cochran resigns with less than a year to go. What would be the point of the plan if Cochran has to remain in office for 5 years? I don't think he can last that long.
2. If Cochran resigns in an election year. An election is still held, but it is a general election. The advantage to this for Barbour is that the election is one of many instead of a single targeted election. The disadvantage is that Cochran has to hold on to January 1, 2016.
3. Cochran serves out his term as a puppet.
In cases 1 and 2, Republicans get another shot at the seat within the next 2 years instead of waiting for 6 years to take it back from the Democrats.
-PJ
Actually, I think if he resigns after the halfway point of his term there won’t be a special election.
He’s despicable enough that any term is undesirable.
He’s living openly in adultery. Even Bill Clinton did not do this.