Earlier this week, Dodd said he would refinance his loans with another lender, but he didn't answer questions that have been nagging since June. (A New York Times editorial called his answers a "less than satisfactory account.") A new Quinnipiac University poll now shows Dodd with a net negative approval rating (41 percent approve, 48 disapprove). Last summer, it was 51/34. By 54-24 percent, Connecticut responders said they weren't satisfied with his answers about the loans; 51 percent said they would "definitely" or "probably" not vote for him next year. Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic in the 1960's.
Ken Rudin writes: In Dodd We Trust? Maybe Not Among Voters In Connecticut
In Dodd We Trust? Maybe Not Among Voters In Connecticut
Connecticut has been represented in the Senate by Chris Dodd, a Democrat, and Joe Lieberman, a Democrat turned independent, since 1989. Only three states have gone longer without Senate turnover: West Virginia (Byrd & Rockefeller), Massachusetts (Kennedy & Kerry) and Iowa (Grassley & Harkin), all with no Senate change since 1985.
But the Nutmeg State has not seemed especially enthralled with its senators as of late.
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But the standing of Dodd, who is up in 2010 -- not a long time from now -- is suddenly becoming more perilous. Back in June, allegations surfaced that Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, got a sweetheart mortgage deal from Countrywide Financial; Dodd and Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo were pals. Dodd said he didn't think his role in regulating the financial industry had anything to do with getting favorable treatment. Aside from a few dogged reporters and publications, the story never took off.
Now, with the housing market in tatters, the story is getting new legs. Earlier this week, Dodd said he would refinance his loans with another lender, but he didn't answer questions that have been nagging since June. (A New York Times editorial called his answers a "less than satisfactory account.") A new Quinnipiac University poll now shows Dodd with a net negative approval rating (41 percent approve, 48 disapprove). Last summer, it was 51/34. By 54-24 percent, Connecticut responders said they weren't satisfied with his answers about the loans; 51 percent said they would "definitely" or "probably" not vote for him next year.
But that's against a generic opponent. Come election time, parties usually come up with real people to run for office. And the GOP bench in Connecticut is not thought to be especially deep. The current guess is that Rob Simmons, the former Republican congressman who was unseated in 2006, will be the GOP nominee. Dodd has not had an especially close race since he succeeded Abe Ribicoff in the Senate in 1980. And aside from Dodd's father, Thomas Dodd, who lost his bid for a third term in 1970 when he ran as an independent, no Democratic senator from Connecticut has been beaten since 1952.
At least with Dodd, Democrats still love him. That's not the case with Lieberman.
