Senator Dodd Chooses Not To Run

The past two years have not been easy for Connecticut's longest serving U.S. Senator. Chris Dodd's announcement that this term will be his last should not come as a shock to most people watching politics. Connecticut voters have always had a negative attitude toward the job done by career politicians, except for the ones representing them. These feelings are clearly changing as the polls told a story Dodd could not ignore. I don't say this with any satisfaction. The loss of Senator Dodd will put this state at a disadvantage in getting Washington's attention for some time to come. His seniority and influence worked well in many ways, but his chairmanship of the Senate Banking Committee and participation in a Countrywide mortgage VIP program during an economic meltdown put him in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was never directly implicated in any wrongdoing, but the appearance of conflict of interest really resonated with his constituents. I have met Senator Dodd several times, most recently at the Norwich City Hall Christmas Lighting ceremony. He has been a giant in the history of Connecticut politics, and I don't think he's ready to quietly retire. He could be considered Connecticut's Ted Kennedy, an association he would probably not mind hearing at all.