Chris Dodd Will Not Seek Re-election

Chris DoddThe Senator About Whom Jokes Are Most Often Made To Me has decided not to seek a sixth term this November:

Senator Christopher J. Dodd, the embattled Connecticut Democrat who was facing an increasingly tough bid for a sixth term in the Senate, has decided to step aside and not seek re-election, Democrats familiar with his plans said Wednesday. Mr. Dodd, 65, will announce his decision at a news conference later in the day in Connecticut.

The decision came a day after another Democratic senator, Byron Dorgan, also announced that he would not seek re-election this November. That decision was a blow to Democrats and offered an immediate opening to Republicans.

In this case, Mr. Dodd was already considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats facing re-election this November, and party officials had been privately hoping he would step aside. His move opens the way for the state’s highly popular attorney general, Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, to run. Democrats and Republicans said he would be a much stronger candidate in what is a Democratic state.

At least one pollster has indicated that they believe Blumenthal replacing Dodd would solidify the Democrats’ hold on the seat. So this may be another case (like, say, Jim Bunning) where a candidate who wanted to try and hold on was “persuaded” by forces beyond his control to step aside. Or he may simply have read the writing on the wall and decided to exit gracefully.

Suffice it to say, this development pleases me greatly. I look forward to the day when there’s no longer a crooked Senator sullying my name.

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Dodd Harris
About Dodd Harris
Dodd, who used to run a blog named ipse dixit, is an attorney, a veteran of the United States Navy, and a fairly good poker player. He contributed over 650 pieces to OTB between May 2007 and September 2013. Follow him on Twitter @Amuk3.

Comments

  1. I look forward to the day when there’s no longer a crooked Senator sullying my name.

    Now they’re just going to confuse you with Emperor Spengo.

  2. Dodd says:

    Now they’re just going to confuse you with Emperor Spengo.

    Hey, now. I may be silly and over-dramatic but I am not cruel!

  3. markm says:

    That’s three biggun’s for the week. Now if Jack Murtha and Charley Wrangel would jump on board…..

  4. DL says:

    I now know how those people felt centuries ago when the evil king passed away and the apparent heirs were all worse.

    Blumanthal is no Chris Dodd and the difference, I suspect, will have many a Church-going, gun-toting, family values, conservative, just wishing Dodd stayed….