HARTFORD, Conn., May 13, 2008
Dodd: Dems Have Ceded Process To Cable TV
Former Presidential Candidate Says Race Between Two People Was Inevitable Because "That's Where The Ratings Were"
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Democratic presidential hopefuls, from left, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., leave the National Public Radio debate Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007, at the State Historical Museum in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP)
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Photo Essay The Rest Of The Field A look at eight presidential candidates who are struggling to get heard.
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Timeline Democratic Campaign Trail Notable events in the race for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.
"It was pretty much predetermined it would be a race between two people," the five-term senator told a Hartford economic development group. "That's where the ratings were."
Dodd's longshot presidential bid ended after his sixth-place finish in the Iowa caucus. Despite moving to Iowa months before the January caucus to campaign full-time, Dodd battled for attention and campaign contributions and earned less than 1 percent of the vote.
Dodd has endorsed Barack Obama, who holds a commanding lead in pledged delegates over Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Jerry Dunklee, a professor of journalism at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, said the media gave attention to candidates who were successful at the start of the campaign.
"I would argue that there were news judgments made early on that Clinton and Obama raised money early on and national polling showed they were favorite candidates," he said.
"It doesn't mean you'll be a good president, but it means the media will pay attention," Dunklee said. "To argue that these two particular candidates were chosen by the kingmakers in cable TV, I'm not buying it."
Nancy DiNardo, the Connecticut Democratic Party chairwoman, said she understands Dodd's point. During the early televised debates, the spotlight was not on Dodd, Sen. Joe Biden and others, she said.
"The people who got the play right from the beginning were Senator Clinton, Senator Obama and (former) Senator Edwards," DiNardo said.
Messages seeking comment were left with the Democratic National Committee.
Dodd raised $15 million before exiting the race in January, but his efforts were dwarfed by Clinton and Obama who spent more than $80 million in 2007. Obama has taken in an unprecedented $226 million, while Clinton has lagged behind, and lent her campaign more than $11 million.
Gary Rose, politics professor at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, said Dodd's criticism of cable TV is "not a substantiated claim, but it's an understandable sentiment."
"He just was not an interesting story this year. He wasn't doing anything to attract attention from the public or the media," Rose said. "He's a consummate insider and his party is looking for someone new."
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The secrets of tennis legend 
Posted by TRBundro1277 at 01:00 AM : May 14, 2008
*** Correction..... I meant to say all richardson has done in New Mexico, is to let the illegals to everything! AS energy secretary under clinton, richardson did nothing to help the skyrocketing costs of oil, and switch to alternative fuels. He did a F minus job, He let the oil companies pay him off. I hate richardson, I would never vote for a ticket with that worthless richardson on it! I would vote third party at that point, I still couldn''t vote for Juan Amnesty mccain either!
Posted by truthyness at 04:45 PM : May 13, 2008
*** Exactly! That Undeclared vote belongs to John Edwards! Not Obama!
Posted by aldon61 at 04:18 PM : May 13, 2008
*** Edwards was the most deserving of any candidate! All richardson has done in Arizona is to let illegals get free education and everything else! Richardson shouldn''t have even ran for president. Let him go and be president of mexico. A latino president is the last thing we would need. We already have too many illegals coming in! Edwards deserved it, but the media wanted a black or woman president!
1. SHE DATED AND LOVED A BLACK MAN AT A TIME WHEN MOST WHITE FOLKS HATED BLACK MEN.
2. SHE WAS A PROPHET AND SHE COULD SEE INTO THE FUTURE, SEE SAW ONE DAY THAT A MAN NAMED HUSSIEN WOULD RUN IRAQ, SO BEFORE THE WORLD HEARD OF HUSSIEN, SHE NAMED HER SON HUSSIEN TO PREPARE HIM TO BE A MUSLIM EXTREMIST. SHE ALSO AS A PROPHET NEW THAT AL QUADA WOULD ONE DAY BLOW UP THE TWIN TOWERS.
3. HIS GRANDPARENTS LOVED HIM TOO MUCH, TOLD HIM NOT TO WORRY ABOUT HIS COLOR THAT ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD CAME FROM ONE GOD..WHY THEY LIE TO HIM LIKE THAT.
4. HIS PARENTS RAISED HIM SO THAT HE CAN MEET WITH AND RESPECT REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATES AND MUSLIMS AND ALL PEOPLE - THEY MESSED HIS LIFE UP, MAKING HIM THINK WHITE FOLKS WOULD ACCEPT HIM.
5. HIS MOTHER GAVE HIM GOOD HARD WORKING VALUES, HE WENT TO HARVARD AND GOT HIS DEGREE - NOW HE TOO SMART FOR BLUE COLLAR WHITE MEN - HIS MOTHER FAULT - SHE SHOULD HAVE MADE HIM A THUG INSTEAD OF A HARD WORKING MAN.
DAYUM WHITE WOMEN FOR LOVING A BLACK MEN AND HAVING HIS SON AND RAISING HIM RIGHT SO ONE DAY HE COULD TURN OUT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT
DAYUM THEM ALL I SAY!
1. SHE DATED AND LOVED A BLACK MAN AT A TIME WHEN MOST WHITE FOLKS HATED BLACK MEN.
2. SHE WAS A PROPHET AND SHE COULD SEE INTO THE FUTURE, SEE SAW ONE DAY THAT A MAN NAMED HUSSIEN WOULD RUN IRAQ, SO BEFORE THE WORLD HEARD OF HUSSIEN, SHE NAMED HER SON THAT TO PREPARE HIM TO BE A MUSLIM EXTREMIST. SHE ALSO AS A PROPHET NEW THAT AL QUADA WOULD ONE DAY BLOW UP THE TWIN TOWERS.
3. HIS GRANDPARENTS LOVED HIM TOO MUCH, TOLD HIM NOT TO WORRY ABOUT HIS COLOR THAT ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD CAME FROM ONE GOD..WHY THEY LIE TO HIM LIKE THAT.
4. HIS PARENTS RAISED HIM SO THAT HE CAN MEET WITH AND RESPECT REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATES AND MUSLIMS AND ALL PEOPLE - THEY MESSED HIS LIFE UP, MAKING HIM THINK WHITE FOLKS WOULD ACCEPT HIM.
5. HIS MOTHER GAVE HIM GOOD HARD WORKING VALUES, HE WENT TO HARVARD AND GOT HIS DEGREE - NOW HE TOO SMART FOR BLUE COLLAR WHITE MEN - HIS MOTHER FAULT - SHE SHOULD HAVE MADE HIM A THUG INSTEAD OF A HARD WORKING MAN.
DAYUM WHITE WOMEN FOR LOVING A BLACK MEN AND HAVING HIS SON AND RAISING HIM RIGHT SO ONE DAY HE COULD TURN OUT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT
DAYUM THEM ALL I SAY!
An Extreme Political Storm Warning remains in effect throughout the United States until November 4 2008.
An Extreme Political Storm Warning means that conditions are favorable for intense hope and change.
If you campaign or vote in an area that is prone to political stagnation be prepared to move with the times and vote for an out of the ordinary candidate especially during this national election.
This type of storm is not common and can cause inconveniences for some voters.
Heavy debate with strong views will add to the stormy political conditions.
Voters with moderate views may experience some anguish.
The worst of the storm will be experienced in the Denver Colorado area in late August.
Nationally active supporters and voters in the warned areas should be alert for rising temperaments and take appropriate action to protect pride and dignity.
Move your political position to higher ground at times of high sentiment.
And on another note KUDOS to the SENATE!!
They finally found some Brass ones and STOOD UP TO King George!
In a 97 to 1 vote (wonder WHO the 1 vote was) the SENATE AGREED to STOP the ridiculous FILLING AT $120 plus per barrel of the ENGORGED by George Strategic Oil Reserve!
I am ashamed of the DNC and their corruptness in this debacle. They are starting to look like the Chicago mafia.
- by mcvet May 13, 2008 2:45 PM EDT
- He''s absolutely right folks. I know Chris Mathew''s does this and so do so many more. Course I can''t say it''s good or bad. Someone, like Obama, who has the trust of those that follow him can overcome just about anything it seems. It will not be long though until they MUST raise the issues with McCain and his record. LOL
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