It could happen.
It's not so much sympathy as it is the realization that control of the Senate is at stake. The NJ soccer moms (who are well described in the above few posts) will figure: Who cares if the Torch took some money, the Republicans are evil...etc. What the Torch needed was to refocus this race on the issues. For the next two weeks, all the media will be about the issues, and how Forrester is "out of touch" with the New Jersey voters. Plus, the liberals will paint the Republicans as being against democracy for trying to keep another Dem off of the ballot. Then, when Torricelli jumps back in..presto! He's re-elected.