Yep. The replacvement would be in the Senate till the '08 elections.
However, w/ a 50-50 split, ties would be broked by the President of the Senate VP Cheney.
But he's still alive.
Good point. I don't think there's anything that says that a Senator can be out of circulation for the remainder of his term, thereby holding the majority for the Dems, even if he himself never steps foot back onto the Senate floor.