2006.05.24: May 24, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Dominican Republic: Politics: Congress: Election2008 - Dodd: Connecticut Post: Dodd considers 2008 presidential bid

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Dominican Republic: RPCV Chris Dodd (Dominican Republic) : RPCV Chris Dodd: Archived Stories: 2006.05.24: May 24, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Dominican Republic: Politics: Congress: Election2008 - Dodd: Connecticut Post: Dodd considers 2008 presidential bid
Chris Dodd considers run for the White House Date: June 3 2006 No: 903 Chris Dodd considers run for the White House
Senator Chris Dodd plans to spend the next six to eight months raising money and reaching out to Democrats around the country to gauge his viability as a candidate. Just how far Dodd can go depends largely on his ability to reach Democrats looking for an alternative to Hillary Clinton. PCOL Comment: Dodd served as a Volunteer in the Dominican Republic and has been one of the strongest supporters of the Peace Corps in Congress.


By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-240-83.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.240.83) on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 9:50 am: Edit Post

Dodd considers 2008 presidential bid

Dodd considers 2008 presidential bid

Dodd acknowledged it will take time to build national name recognition, but suggested that Democratic activists know him. Dodd came within a vote of being the Senate Majority Leader in the mid-1990s and delivered nominating speeches for Gary Hart at the 1984 convention and for Bill Clinton in 1996. Dodd could do well with the growing Latino population because he speaks fluent Spanish and has a record of supporting Central Americans as a former Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic and as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Dodd considers 2008 presidential bid

Dodd facing steep climb
By PETER URBAN purban@ctpost.com

WASHINGTON — Word that U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd had decided to "do all the things necessary" to run for president apparently had not quite reached 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. on Tuesday morning.

Tourists snapping photographs outside the White House fence were puzzled when asked what they knew of Dodd, a Democrat who has represented Connecticut in Congress for 25 years. "I haven't heard of him," said Matthew Lowe, a dentist from Pittsburg, Kan. His wife, Kim, shrugged her shoulders, too.

"I've just heard of the usual suspects — McCain and Hillary," Lowe said, referring to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. "I'll probably vote for McCain if he gets the nomination. I'm kind of a diehard Republican."

Dodd, who has said he has an ongoing "itch" to be president, said Tuesday that he is serious about winning the 2008 election. He plans to spend the next six to eight months raising money and reaching out to Democrats around the country to gauge his viability as a candidate.

"I am optimistic we can raise the money and build a level of support," he said.

Although no one has formally announced, Dodd enters an already crowded field of potential Democratic candidates, some of whom have amassed large campaign war chests and developed nationwide name recognition.

Clinton has nearly $20 million cash on hand, and polls show her consistently supported by about 40 percent of Democrats — double the support shown for Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., former Vice President Al Gore or former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.

Dodd has not been included in any of the national surveys, which have also included: Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis.; Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.; Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind.; Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack; New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson; retired Gen. Wesley Clark; and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner.

"We are a late starter, but this is early enough to get going," Dodd said.

Political analysts seem to agree.

"There is a front-runner, but this thing is far from over," said Jennifer Duffy of the Cook Political Report.

With Clinton far out in front, the other contenders will be vying to be the "anti-Clinton" choice — a race, Duffy said, that is wide open.

"We are a year and a half away from the first primary. The biggest challenge now is not name recognition, but money," she said.

Dodd has about $2 million to draw upon from his Senate campaign treasury. Clinton has nearly $20 million in the bank, Kerry tops $19 million, Bayh has nearly $11 million and Warner is sitting on about $3.4 million in a federal political action committee.

Duffy said that Dodd will also have to begin traveling to the early caucus and primary states so voters there can get to know him.

Edwards, the 2004 vice presidential candidate, has been to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina 13 times and made 41 trips to other states this year. Bayh has been to those three states seven times and to 12 other states, Duffy said.

Dodd acknowledged it will take time to build national name recognition, but suggested that Democratic activists know him. Dodd came within a vote of being the Senate Majority Leader in the mid-1990s and delivered nominating speeches for Gary Hart at the 1984 convention and for Bill Clinton in 1996.

"I don't imagine I will show up on the political Richter scale soon," he said. "I am not an unknown quantity to some, but I realize I am not a household name. That will obviously change. At least I hope it does, or this will be a relatively short campaign."

Scott McLean, a political science professor at Quinnipiac University, said Dodd could easily emerge as the Democratic nominee, particularly with Clinton as the front-runner.

"I don't think Hillary has much of a chance. I don't see her ability to win votes in the heartland. She's got some image problems that will be difficult to overcome," McLean said.

On the flip side, McLean said Dodd could draw support from the liberal wing of the party and Democrats fed up with the Bush administration. Moreover, he comes across as an authentic person who speaks from his heart.

Dodd could also do well with the growing Latino population because he speaks fluent Spanish and has a record of supporting Central Americans as a former Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras and as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, McLean said.

"He has a real opportunity to pull something off in Texas or New Mexico. But a lot depends on what happens with Bill Richardson," McLean said.

Barbara Trish, a professor of political science at Grinnell College in Iowa, said it would be difficult for Dodd to win the nomination with Kerry in the race.

"Though some Kerry supporters may be less or even unenthusiastic this time, I'm not sure another senior New England senator will be much of a draw," she said.

Gary Rose, a professor of politics at Sacred Heart University, said Dodd is viable.

"Although he has become almost a senior statesman in the party, he is a fresh face to those Democrats that have been consumed with Hillary Clinton and John Kerry and all that," Rose said.

Dodd has experience, speaks eloquently and has the liberal credentials that would appeal to the political activists that participate in primaries and conventions, Rose said.

Just how far Dodd can go depends largely on his ability to reach Democrats looking for an alternative to Clinton. That means he will need to appear more frequently on "Meet the Press," "Larry King Live" and "Imus in the Morning." He will also need to get noticed on the Internet.

"There are all kinds of ways to get known," Rose said.

For now, Dodd will have to contend with some puzzled looks, like those found Tuesday outside the White House.

"I know if he ran I wouldn't vote for him," said Bob Baker, a social studies teacher from Branson, Mo., who admitted to knowing very little about Connecticut's senior senator.

"There are several people on my wish list that I'd put ahead of him," Baker said. "I like Joe Biden, and I'm still waiting for Barack Obama," he said, in reference to the senator from Illinois. "He seems to represent more of the younger guys."

There is hope, though.

"I'm surprised he is running for president," said Robin Parker a soccer mom from Cambridge, Mass. "I didn't see that in the paper."

Asked if she knew him, Parker smiled and rattled off a list of what she described as his "impressive" political record. Parker offered her encouragement to Dodd's campaign, saying that he would be welcomed in Cambridge.

"At this stage in the game, everyone has a shot," she said.





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Story Source: Connecticut Post

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Dominican Republic; Politics; Congress; Election2008 - Dodd

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By Jack Cole (cache-rtc-aa07.proxy.aol.com - 152.163.100.11) on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 3:43 pm: Edit Post

I was excited with the announcement Senator Dodd is considering running for the presidency. When I had finished writing my biography of the Rev Richard Wurmbrand and his wife Sabina I wrote Senator Chris Dodd asking him about the status of his father, Senator Thomas Dodd, who in 1966 had invited my biographee to testify before his Internal Security Subcommittee. I felt he would be the right person to write a foreword for my book. The senator graciously responded that his father was deceased. I think Chris Dodd would make an excellent president.
Jack Cole, PCP 1968-1973, Afghanistan, Swaziland, India.

By Edwards is the man (ca527-ch01-bl01.tx-dallas0.sa.earthlink.net - 207.69.139.6) on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 11:40 pm: Edit Post

You edited our posting. Dodd and his staffers are the wrong people for the executive branch. Dodd has done more damage to the rights of volunteers who have served and been hurt by Peace Corps than anyother Senator.

He is wrong for the job and he is wrong on Peace Corps safety and security issues and former volunteer concerns.

I will campaign for John Edwards.

By Admin1 (admin) (adsl-69-151-51-37.dsl.okcyok.swbell.net - 69.151.51.37) on Saturday, July 01, 2006 - 9:44 am: Edit Post

Dear "Edwards is the man,"

We do not edit postings. Your previous post is right here.

Best Regards,


Admin1


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