He didn’t stay on the bench to prevent Clinton from replacing him.
If he did, he was a complete idiot for chancing a Kerry election in 04.
Yes, actually that’s exactly what he did. He had no intention of allowing Clinton to appoint a successor and open up another seat as well. As it was, given the makeup of the Senate in ‘01, the safest date he could’ve waited until was 2003. Why he didn’t retire at that point, I’m not sure (but IIRC, it was partly because it had to do with finding the right successor). I don’t think anyone but the moonbats believed Kerry was going to be elected in ‘04.