You are right about the law; the problem (for the RATS) is that said law directly violates the Seventeenth Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the public the right to elect their own Senators. And there is already SCOTUS precedence which says that special elections for Senators must be held on the next available regular election day. That day is November 5, 2002. And somebody is going to be elected Senator from New Jersey on that date.
Basically, the Constitution's pretty clear on this, and the INTENT of the authors of that Amendment is even clearer, so the RATS aren't going to get away with any games, no matter how clever they think they might be.
From your lips to God's ears. Thanks for the info!