Sen. Dodd’s Departure
Photo by Steve Kotchko
Posted 1/7/10
For the second time in two months, Connecticut’s political world has been rocked by the exit of another veteran elected official. First, Republican Gov. Jodi Rell chose not to seek reelection, now it is Democratic U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd.
After a year of watching his poll numbers sink along with an apparent erosion of voters trust in him because of a series of personal and professional controversies, Dodd stood near the front porch of his East Haddam home January 6, and told Connecticut: “I will not be a candidate for reelection this November.”
In a refreshing moment, Dodd said: “There is nothing more pathetic than a politician who announces they are only leaving public life to spend more time with their family—but it is not the reason for my decision.”
The Senator said a combination of challenges in the last year pushed him to his departure statement. They included the death of his sister and his close friend Sen. Ted Kennedy, his own battle with prostate cancer, and his numerous political problems that put Dodd in what he called “the toughest political shape of my career.”
Even so, Dodd contended he might have pulled off reelection. “I am very aware of my present political standing here at home; but it is equally clear that any certain prediction about an election victory or defeat nearly a year from now, would be absurd.”
In his January 6 speech, which lasted less than 10 minutes, Dodd took no questions and offered no details on what he might do in his career after his term in the Senate ends. Some have speculated Dodd might be in line for a post in the Obama administration, but in a statement reacting to Dodd’s exit from the campaign, President Barack Obama said only that he and the First Lady “offer our best wishes for the future to him and his family.”
For months, Dodd has tried to sound upbeat about his reelection chances, apparently hoping that putting on a happy face and scheduling more “free media” public events in Connecticut could pull up his poll ratings, but it wasn’t working. Political reality apparently took over.
“There are moments for each elected public servant to step aside and let someone else step up—this is my moment to step aside,” Dodd conceded. “None of us are irreplaceable, none of us are indispensible,” Dodd continued. “Those who think otherwise are dangerous,” he said.
As expected, popular Democratic Attorney General Richard Blumenthal wasted no time announcing he will seek his party’s U.S. Senate nomination to fill Dodd’s seat. Many Democrats will breathe a sigh of relief over that news, because they feared the politically-weakened Dodd might be easy pickins’ for Republicans. Now Dodd, beset with ethics questions, is out of the race, replaced by the Clark Kent of Connecticut politics—Dick Blumenthal.
One major GOP Senate contender, former professional wrestling empire executive Linda McMahon tried to put a brave face on the “player shift” for the Democrats saying the key issue of the 2010 Senate race in Connecticut remains “Washington’s failed policies and career politicians.” McMahon said voters “do not believe the way to change Washington is to replace one career politician with another.”
Rell’s decision against reelection churned the political waters in Connecticut, and Dodd’s exit statement will create new waves. Dodd’s departure pushed Blumenthal to seek Dodd’s seat, and opens up the choice post of Attorney General to many politicians itching to move up the ladder in state government.
The 2010 election season already was shaping up to be exciting. Dodd’s decision against a reelection bid is sure to kick the campaign atmosphere into high gear very soon.