But back to the original premise, if the plan is to elect Cochran and then have him resign (remember that he's suffering from dementia), then they can't wait for too long. A plan that waits for 3 years is not practical. Cochran can't be hidden from the people for that long.
On the other hand, there is also the Tim Johnson precedent, where he was absent for a year due to his brain hemorrhage. He refused to step down, which meant that the governor couldn't appoint a replacement. South Dakota went without a Senate vote for a year.
I don't think that is Barbour's idea of a plan. He wants Cochran out sooner rather than later so he can get his choice in place now.
-PJ
Not really sure the idea isn’t to use a senile senator as a puppet. Strom Thurmond comes to mind. Sonny Montgomery, and others.
Cochran seldom sets foot in MS as it is, I’m not sure the voters would really notice.