Another Democrat Backs Out Of The 2010 Election
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) via wikimedia.org
On Wednesday January 6, 2010 Senator Christopher J. Dodd, a Democrat from Connecticut, announced that he will not be running for reelection in the 2010 midterm election. Dodd’s retirement plans were revealed soon after Sen. Byron Dorgan, a Dem from North Dakota, unexpectedly declared that he would be stepping down from his position in the Senate thus making way for Republicans to gain seats and bring an end to the current Dem 60-vote majority.
Dodd’s decision to forego a sixth term reelection came as no surprise being that he would have faced a tough campaign come November against prospective Republican candidates Linda McMahon, the wealthy CEO of WWE, or former Rep. Rob Simmons. Dodd’s popularity took a turn for the worst after his failed attempt for presidency in the 2008 elections and after receiving harsh criticism for being a major player in writing the Wall street bailout package. He was also scrutinized for accepting a low-interest loan from Countrywide Financial. In addition, recent polls show that the incumbent senator is trailing McMahon by a small margin and Simmons by double digits. On the bright side, Dodd’
s retreat allows for Richard Blumenthal, a popular attorney general and stronger Dem candidate, to run for the seat.
Overall, the lost of Democrat seats and the gain of a Republican advantage would be a huge damper to the Dem-controlled senate, especially at a time when they bank on their majority vote to pass Dem supported legislation such as health care reform.
Relishing in the potential to gain seats, TPM reports that the National Republican Senatorial Committee released a statement calling Sen. Dorgan’s decision to step down “another excellent pick-up opportunity for Republicans in 2010,” said the NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh.
Walsh continued to say that Dorgan’
s leave “is indicative of the difficult environment and slumping approval ratings that Democrats face as a result of their out of control tax-and-spend agenda in Washington.”
“We fully intend to capitalize on this opportunity by continuing to recruit strong candidates who can win these seats in November,” he stated.
The Latest: Dodd: ‘This Is My Moment To Step Aside’
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) formally announced his retirement from the senate after a 35 year political run around noon on Wednesday calling it “my moment to step aside.” He explained that he gave much thought before coming to this conclusion and touched upon the criticisms he faced during his career. Thanking his Connecticut supporters he said “You honored me beyond words with your confidence.” He then added that “there been times that my position and actions have caused some of you to question that confidence, I regret that.” In addition, he mentioned that “I found myself in the toughest political shape of my career.”
Lastly, he remarked that “there is nothing more pathetic, in my view, than a politician who announces that they are only leaving public light to spend more time with their family.” Though his two young children will benefit from the decision, he continued, they are not the reason for his decision.
