Nah, Edwards' seat was too valuable.
The answer was Bob Graham or Jeanne Shaheen [though I admit, given where NH was, I'm stumped as to why Lieberman couldn't guarantee that one].
NC had both an outgoing & an incoming Democratic governor who, regardless, would've been statutorily required to appoint somebody of the same political party as that of the vacating Senator (Edwards). The seat would've been fine.
Of course, a 2002 special election might mean that the appointed Senator would go down in flames with Erskine Bowles, but considering what actually ended up happening to Edwards' seat in real life, it might've just been inevitable.
Poll
