Won't You Come Home, Chris Dodd?

First, a quick pitch for voter participation -- unregistered or unaffiliated voters have until January 31 to register by mail as Dem or GOP and vote in the Connecticut Presidential Preference Primaries on February 5. (Deadline to appear in person at your town Registrar is Feb 4).

In a New Year’s Eve quote from Dubuque Iowa, the Senator's wife said the press had figured out the race a long time ago and (candidates) were unnecessary. Mrs. Dodd was correct, almost. She should have commented closer to home, why didn’t Dodd "figure() this race out a long time ago. (He's) almost unnecessary to the process,” He's a smart guy, but shelved his brains about a year ago on a mid-life quest for the White House.

From August 2006 to January 2007 Sen. Chris Dodd conducted his exploratory campaign testing voter and media reaction and donor generosity. He polled in the very low single digits, he got modest media attention and while donors came in early with seed money, there was no reason to believe this would ever be a well funded campaign. The results were clear to all but the Senator and his inner circle --- he had no chance. After testing the waters, he never should have declared for the Olympic medley. This candidacy is an ego-driven change of pace from a popular Senator and a disservice to his Connecticut constituents. He has moved his family to Iowa? What's up with that --- shouldn't he have resigned the Senate? Time after time important Senate votes have passed with him as a no-show, even ones where other Senate Candidates did return to DC and vote. What's his total missed votes in the Senate this session? Did he go to his day job at all in December?

I like Sen. Chris Dodd. He is great on the constitution and pretty good on foreign policy, domestic issue too. For me, his weak area is corporate influence and his banking chairmanship which after so many years just adds to the inside-the-beltway stench. Overall, I think he would be a very good president and probably prefer him second or third among Dems running.

However, his Quixotic persistence in the 2008 race reflects poorly on his judgment. We told him in the Quinnipiac Poll months ago, "Come Home Chris Dodd". He doesn't believe in polls? Voters will soon make this clear to him.

It's too bad, and perhaps ultimately undemocratic, that even if Dodd were to quit after New Hampshire, his name will still be on the Connecticut ballot. He will probably not quit before his home state votes February 5, and will make a reasonably good showing here. But I am sure that his CT percentage will confirm what we know from the polls, that he is not taken seriously as a potential nominee, even here, and was just a safe sentimental vote in our Primary -- which as usual will see the nomination decided in other states.

I would really like to see CT Dems express their preference on February 5 unclouded by votes for a favorite son as they choose among candidates that range from DLC moderates to unashamed liberals. Following the clear preference of Lamont over Lieberman and DeStefano over Malloy in the 2006 Primary being negated by the central party in the general election, Connecticut Democrats would now benefit from a February 5 opportunity to express with clarity whether they stand to the right or to the left of the spectrum that is our party. As a majority, are Connecticut Democrats with DiNardo and Amann and Lieberman or with Paindiris/Olsen and Williams/Looney and Donovan/Sharkey, and Courtney, Murphy and Himes? It will be important to have an answer to this question one year from now when we begin to consider challengers to Governor Rell.

Dodd is unnecessary both to the process of Connecticut Democrats selecting a preferred Presidential Nominee and to this opportunity for our party to express where it stands politically. We must vote for our preferred national contender, not for our homestate favorite