From The Hotline for Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009

Dodd's Doldrums

Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009


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.

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