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Dodd will not seek another term as Senator


by Chris MC


October 9th, 2007 · 18 Comments

I really like Chris Dodd.

He’s been my Senator for pretty much my entire adult life. But more than that, I enjoy his performance on the national stage.

He is articulate and funny, he connects with the people in the room with him, and it comes across on TV.

I’m kinda, y’know, proud he’s from Connecticut.

He’s my idea of a Connecticut politician - personable; urbane without pretension; sophisticated yet practical; substantive without losing his sense of humor; principled yet pragmatic; and silver-tongued.

So I’m sitting in my dining room this morning finishing my beer (don’t worry - I was working all night) and listening with as much interest as exhaustion would allow, to a pretty good piece on NPR’s Morning Edition profiling Connecticut’s own, mid-stride in his bid to Rule the Free World.

He says he’s serious, and I believe him. The piece concluded with this quote: “I’m not going to do this twice,” Dodd says. “I know who I am, I know what I care about, I know what I believe in, and I’m enjoying the process. And I think I’m going to win.”

But, that isn’t why I’m posting. What woke me up was the closing from the reporter.

He said, “If he doesn’t, this could be Dodd’s last campaign — he won’t be seeking a sixth term in the Senate.”

Even if he loses his bid for President of the United States, this is Chris Dodd’s last term as a United States Senator.

Maybe everybody already knows this (like I said, my schedule is kinda weird these days), but it is definitely the first I’ve heard of it. Anyhow, this opens up a whole bunch of questions about Connecticut politics.

OK, I’ll start!

Scenario: Jodi Rell does not seek another term, and Chris Dodd isn’t going to be United States Senator. Both slots are open seats on the same ballot in 2010.

Now, there are people who have been waiting in the wings for one or the other (or both) of these two seats for - no exaggeration - more than a DECADE.

I’m thinking Senator Blumenthal. But Blumenthal is actively promoting a run for Governor. If you were Dick Blumenthal, what would you do?

Well, I gotta go back to work.

Talk to you soon.

Tags: In the News · Senate

18 Responses so far ↓ “Dodd will not seek another term as Senator”



  • 1 signs signs everywhere are signs // Oct 9, 2007 at 8:45 am

    Turf!
    I have the perfect candidate maybe Andy Garfunkel can vie for one of those two positions, he’s already got the billboards, arrogance and ego! The only thing he needs to do now is learn to pat himself on the back while pressing the flesh!

  • 2 Anonymous // Oct 9, 2007 at 9:34 am

    #1 cool off Joanne. Pull in your claws. You don’t have to comment negatively on everything, large and small that Andy does. Run your own campaign and may the best Town Clerk win!

  • 3 GreenpeaceIsKillingUs // Oct 9, 2007 at 9:42 am

    Turffie, this is not news. You should research the fed laws about PACs. I was told by an insider that he had to close his Senate PAC and say he was not running again, but that may not be the case after all.

    By the way, when is our friend Chris Dodd getting out of this race? His poll position is not getting better and he is doing a disservice to his friends in CT by hanging in - all vanity! And no money coming in (embarrassing).

  • 4 Joanne // Oct 9, 2007 at 9:43 am

    Sorry #2- But it wasn’t me. If Andy wants to spend that kind of money to promote his campaign, thats his perogative. My website, letters, palm cards and lawn signs will suffice. Even I wouldn’t want to drive by my picture every day!

  • 5 turfgrrl // Oct 9, 2007 at 9:45 am

    GreenpeaceIsKillingUs: Ahem, the byline on this one is ChrisMC, one of yourCT.com’s new posters.

  • 6 anonymous // Oct 9, 2007 at 9:49 am

    Bob Duff would beat Blumenthal in a dem primary !!!!!

  • 7 #13 of the Miserable 25 // Oct 9, 2007 at 10:17 am

    Duff would beat Blumi in a primary. I have met them both they are both educated men and good at their jobs. The difference is that Duff is a people person, warm and friendly, and Blumi does not have those people skills. Blumi always seems to be like a doctor getting ready to tell someone they have a terminal disease. I think being the Attorney General for so long has sucked all the people skills and friendliness out of him.

  • 8 signs signs everywhere are signs // Oct 9, 2007 at 11:55 am

    #2-what makes you think Joanne would write that? Are you guys getting so paranoid that you need to blame her for whatever negative posting there is about your candidate? Not everyone thinks Andy is the golden child you make him out to be. There are many out here in the real world that know him and don’t agree with you.

  • 9 anonymous // Oct 9, 2007 at 12:45 pm

    I heard that the reason Dodd is running for president is that it will increase his “value” on the lecture circuit after he retires from the Senate - he can be introduced as a former candidate for president of the United States and former Senator - not that he ever expected to become the nominee.

  • 10 #13 of the Miserable 25 // Oct 9, 2007 at 1:31 pm

    Took a ride through Westport today. They have more political signs per square foot of space then a political convention. On most intersections there are so many that you don’t even bother to read them.

  • 11 Ed Cossone // Oct 9, 2007 at 3:32 pm

    The Dems better get their asses in gear, and start helping their folks who are running for council. It seems that the Republican machine is calling and visiting a lot of Norwalkers to ask them to put up lawn signs. The Dem town committee is letting their hopefuls swing in the wind. If they lose the whole damn council, it will be that they figured it was every man for himself. That is not a party, that is a death wish.

  • 12 anon // Oct 9, 2007 at 4:27 pm

    The Dems will lose the council and they deserve to. Look at how they’ve handled the BOE issues, see nothing, hear nothing, and do nothing. They moan about this site in private, yet never manage to engage the public here. We are the voters and they ignore the issues that we bring up. You’d think they’d be all over Greenpeace who keeps talking about serious problems in Norwalk. But no. Nothing.

  • 13 Anonymous // Oct 9, 2007 at 4:34 pm

    Rep. Rosa Delauro will replace Dodd and Mayor John DeStefano, State Rep Lawlor and Sen. Harp will fight for the 3rd CD. edge- John DeStefano.

    Duff- maybe in a few years could think about the 4 CD.

  • 14 #13 of the Miserable 25 // Oct 9, 2007 at 5:29 pm

    #12 “The Dems will lose the council and they deserve to.”

    Hold it, lets not throw out the baby with the bath water. Not all Dems are bad for their constituents, just as not all Republicans are good for their constituents.

    The Democratic political machine is in need of a complete rebuild and re oiling. In the meantime the Pubs are making hay.

  • 15 Mr Greenpeace // Oct 9, 2007 at 6:50 pm

    THE UPFFA HAS CHALLENGED ALL LOCALS TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND LOCAL CONNECTICUT SENATOR CHRISTOPHER DODD
    Updated On: Sep 18, 2007 (22:44:00) PRINT/SAVE Article EMAIL Article

    The UPFFA has made a challenge to all the locals in the state to help raise money for Senator Dodd and his presidential campaign. The UPFFA has set a goal of $2300 per local with a deadline of October 1st. All personal checks can be made out to DODD FOR PRESIDENT. Checks can be given to any Executive Board member and will be forwarded to the campaign. For those of you who dont know, Senator Dodd is a supporter of the fire service and shows his support with not just talk, but with action.

    He wasn’t just a co-sponsor of the FIRE Act; he wrote it.

    He wasn’t just a co-sponsor of the SAFER Act; he wrote it.

    As alot of you know, the Norwalk Fire Department has benefited greatly from the FIRE Act. This is a chance to show that we appreciate his support for the fire service.

    A lot of us like the senator Chris, while there are some touting how they have won so many grants as you can see in order to win some grants it took Dodd to write them first.

    It was nice seeing this posted today most welcomed if you support Dodd or someone like him.

  • 16 Mr Greenpeace // Oct 9, 2007 at 6:54 pm

    the above was taken from the firefighters local 830 page where they are having their safety week.Support our firefighters this week,as we all should all year long.

  • 17 Chris MC // Oct 9, 2007 at 7:24 pm

    Greenpeace is killing us: You have a point - it is a long time to 2008.

    Anon 12:45 has a point as well - one I’ve heard expressed a little less, um, mercenarily… To your point: Dodd is a national figure amongst that cognoscenti, but not the well known name that a Colin Powell, Newt Gingrich, or John McCain (the astute amongst us note I choose no Democrats for comparison) is.

    I guess I come down on all sides of you two - there is no downside to Chris running a positive, issues oriented national campaign; irrespective of the outcome in thirteen months, his options only improve.

    But, IMHO, his best interest is to leave the Senate for the cabinet; or another much more lucrative opportunity that will allow this sixties-something to spend some quality time with his young children while he can.

  • 18 Aunt Bertha // Oct 10, 2007 at 3:28 pm

    I am glad that he won’t be back. I am tired of sitting government officials running for President for two years and neglecting their state duties.

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