When then-Gov. Mel Carnahan was running for the US Senate (2000), he and his son were killed in a plane crash about 3 weeks before the election. I know people personally who voted for the DECEASED Mel Carnahan because they felt sorry for his widow, Jean - defeating Sen. John Ashcroft (who was running for re-election).
Carnahan won and served in the US Senate for 2 years until Rep. Jim Talent defeated her in a special election to complete the rest of that Senate term (2000-2006).
Hillary probably would get sympathy votes from a dead Bill Clinton. We in Missouri have lived it!