December 11, 2009 11:58 AM

Chris Dodd in Trouble in Reelection Effort

By
Sergey Kadinsky
Topics
Campaign 2010
(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
Chris Dodd (D-Conn) has been in the Senate for five terms, rising through the ranks to become one of the most powerful lawmakers in Congress.

Yet it seems he may have an uphill battle in trying to secure a sixth.

"It is increasingly clear to both independent analysts and Democratic leaders that Dodd is just too badly damaged to have a decent shot at getting re-elected, almost regardless of who wins the Republican nomination," writes Jennifer Duffy, a Senate race analyst at the Cook Political Report, which is now predicting a Dodd loss.

For much of the past year, Dodd, who heads the Senate Banking Committee, was the subject of voter outrage for his role in the payment of bonuses to executives at AIG, the troubled firm that received a massive federal bailout.

Dodd's close connections to leading bankers are coming back to haunt him. One such connection is to former Bear Stearns director Edward Downe Jr., who once shared a condo with Dodd. After Downe's conviction for insider trading, Dodd leaned on President Clinton to pardon Downe at the end of his presidency.

Dodd's reputation also took a hit amid allegations that insurance giant Countrywide gave him "VIP" treatment in refinancing his home.

Poll numbers, Duffy of the Cook Political Report writes, suggest Dodd "is about as unelectable as unindicted incumbents get."

A poll past last month conducted by Quinnipiac University Poll showed 54 percent of voters disapproving of Dodd's performance as Senator.

Dodd is getting an assist today from Vice President Joe Biden, who is visiting Connecticut to highlight examples of federal funding in creating local jobs, such as the construction of a new fire station in East Hartford. He is also stopping by a fundraiser for Dodd, though the senator himself stayed behind in Washington for possible votes.

Add a Comment See all 14 Comments
by P0STING_AWAY December 12, 2009 8:59 PM EST
by jollypants December 11, 2009 4:34 PM EST
Clueless Chris Dodd did not do his job. He sat on the Senate Banking Committee for years and didn't even see the banking crisis coming until the day it happened.

Peter Schiff, who is running against Chris Dodd, not only saw the banking collapse coming, but was warning about it on television as far back as 2005 and was openly ridiculed by "experts" for saying so. Listen to this amazing collage of television appearances with dates:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdVP_sgCETo

Peter Schiff was talking about "subprime" before Chris Dodd even knew what the word meant. He is one of the few people I've heard that understands what caused the economic crisis and how to get out of it without causing a worse economic crisis 1-3 years from now.
===================================================================

Mr. Pants: ( I cannot ask "how" they got so jolly)

It was a Repug congress that repealed the Glass-Steagall act.
Remember Glass-Steagall ??? Passed AFTER the Great Depression ???
It kept banks and investment firms OUT of each others business.
Those "genius" Repugs (lead by good old Phil Gramm) repealed it.
We now see what a smooth move that was ... don't we ....
Reply to this comment
by fedupwithlies2 December 12, 2009 8:34 PM EST
He has supported Obama, get rid of these Democrats who votes with Communist obama. Obama who has the 2,000 "government" reform which destroys the constitution.This constitution is the only thing which prevent Obama right now from coming to each of us and taking all our belongins, and the ones who can't work send to a camp???? Watch the movie, "The Pianist" (2002) and read Geroge Orwell's book, "1984" (at library or amazon) and you will see what Obama's "reform" will bring. Vote against DODD! Save our country!!!!
Reply to this comment
by TheKman3 December 11, 2009 8:04 PM EST
I live in CT and I'm one of thousands that are eager to help Dodd retire in November. He's a sneaky, dishonest and self-indulgent person who left CT and established Iowa as his 'primary' residence when running for president. Good riddance, sir. Enjoy your retirement!

Press release:
Everybody remembers Chris Dodd as Iowa's third U.S. senator, the man who got elected to Congress from the Nutmeg state of Connecticut and then, in a dramatic PR move that may come back to haunt him now, moved lock, stock and family to the Hawkeye state last year in a hopeless bid to win the Democratic presidential caucuses there.

He even enrolled his young daughter in school while some cameras were around.
Reply to this comment
by earthling76 December 11, 2009 5:36 PM EST
Any politician who has been bought off is in direct opposition to the greater good of the public and should be removed regardless of party affiliation. Separation of corporation and State!
Reply to this comment
by rhinton21 December 11, 2009 5:28 PM EST
VOTE FOR REAL CHANGE!!

Peter Schiff. The man that predicted the economic crisis and who stands for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Check him out!

www.schiffforsenate.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/SchiffReport
http://www.facebook.com/PeterSchiff?ref=ts

And check out how he schooled so called economists and analysts on the coming financial crisis back going back to 05'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdVP_sgCETo

He has been warning of an even greater crisis coming. Send the only real Republican candidate to Congress to stop it.

Vote for Schiff - Dump Dodd!!
Reply to this comment
by stn_sage December 11, 2009 5:09 PM EST
Good! I'm glad to hear it! All these incumbents who voted for the bailout and have been 'stiffing' the public on all these other bills as well, DESERVE to get their 'pink slips' from the public!

It looks like the public in some parts of the country are tired of being 'DIDDLED' by these crooks masquerading as politicians!

Let's just hope Dodd has a lot of company! It's the only chance of getting Congress 'cleaned up'!
Reply to this comment
by hopetrumps December 11, 2009 4:05 PM EST
Chris Dodd is a goner. He is the Democratic version of Alaska's doomed Senator Ted Stevens. These guys were in the Senate so long they have the attitude their seat belongs to them. A state doesn't get any more Republican than does Alaska and still Stevens lost. Dodd will lose too. The Democrats' only hope is that he will have a little more humility than Stevens, see the writing on the wall, and let a more worthy and less tainted Democrat take the Senate candidacy. So the big question is---- what does Dodd care about most, his own career or the good of his party and of the nation? If it's himself he just cares about, which is what I suspect (and I'm a guy who's never voted Republican for Senate in my 47-year voting career!), then the GOP can chalk up a new member in the Senate---if it's his country, his party, his President, and his own legacy he cares about, he will have the modesty to bow out gracefully and let an untainted Democrat have a chance to keep the seat in good hands.
Reply to this comment
by FutureLiberty December 11, 2009 3:00 PM EST
If you care to look you will find Peter Schiff is running against Dodd. He is running as a Republican, but espouses Libertarian ideas of small government, Liberty, lower taxes, and sound monetary practices. He predicted repeatedley the economic/financial problems we are in, and has sound ideas for how to make it through them. Do a search on youtube and be amazed. I contributed to his campaign and I don't even live there. Why?, because his freely given early warnings enabled me to have a larger retirement account than before the crash. I am not a client, just a thankful fan. Good Luck Peter, good luck Connecticut.
Reply to this comment
by Empire-George December 11, 2009 2:01 PM EST
Democrats.....get used to it...... a taste of what's in store Nov.2010
Reply to this comment
by starleo146 December 11, 2009 2:29 PM EST
Empire-George interesting name a taste in store Nov.2010,"IN YOUR DREAMS"
by gwwelch December 11, 2009 1:56 PM EST
Now Dodd wants to tighten controls on the financial institutions after Countrywide gives him a sweetheart deal. Follow the money.
Reply to this comment
See all 14 Comments
.

Follow Political Hotsheet

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook
  • Building You a Better Morning

  • CBS This Morning

    "CBS This Morning," anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and at the same time in other time zones.
    Learn more...