Dodd's Doldrums

Between shepherding health care through HELP and cracking down on Wall Street, few sens have done as much high-profile legislating this year as Chris Dodd. Yet a new Q poll shows his numbers getting worse. What's going on here?

-- To be sure, few CT voters are tracking Dodd's day-to-day achievements. And the GOP cands have yet to be "defined" by him, or other Dems. Dems also note that a crowded GOP primary means a potentially contentious nominating convo next May.

-- Even so, Dodd's stuck at 42% against virtually unknown GOPers; he's already losing to three of them. Heck, even Lieberman has better re-elect numbers than he does (thanks to a stronger standing among GOPers and indies).

-- In the end, Dodd's problems aren't about policy; they're about Dodd. Voters have concluded that they don't like him and turning that around (even once voters are "educated" about GOPers) will be difficult. Just ask Jon Corzine.

-- This goes to the bigger question: Will Dodd stick around for re-election? The wide-open GOV race has snagged Lamont, but AG Blumenthal says he's still waiting for SEN in '12. Given the dismal state of the economy, even a dark blue state like this one isn't immune to Dem backlash. Even so, a race without Dodd in it now looks like the best way for Dems to hold this seat.