Reid's behavior has just been unseemly, but that is not unusual for him. It is clear from his response that Johnson is NOT concious and he may never regain consciousness, but he WILL stay a senator unless he stops breathing...and even then, they would try to cover that up. And then there's Akaka, Inouye and Byrd they have to worry about.
As long as there are Demonrat governors, there really is nothing to worry about if one of the dems departs this earth.