Red VS Blue

Senator Tim Johnson remains in the hospital in critical condition. When he felt ill and was sent to the hospital yesterday, in-coming Senate majority leader Harry Reid went to the hospital to visit him twice. I wonder if Senator Reid would have done the same thing if his party's majority is more than 1 vote or the ill senator is a Republican. If Senator Johnson is unable to serve, then his replacement will be appointed by a Republician governor and will server until the next general election.