Posted on 01/05/2010 9:10:39 PM PST by bd476
Embattled Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd (D) has scheduled a press conference at his home in Connecticut Wednesday at which he is expected to announce he will not seek re-election, according to sources familiar with his plans.
Dodd's retirement comes after months of speculation about his political future, and amid faltering polling numbers and a growing sense among the Democratic establishment that he could not win a sixth term. It also comes less than 24 hours after Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) announced he would not seek re-election.
State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is widely expected to step into the void filled by Dodd and, at least at first blush, should drastically increase Democrats' chances of holding the seat.
Blumenthal, who has served as state Attorney General since 1990, is the most popular politician in the state and has long coveted a Senate seat; he had already signaled that he would run for the Democratic nomination against Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) in 2012. (A sidenote: Assuming Blumenthal gets in to the race, Rep. Chris Murphy could be the long-term beneficiary as he is widely regarded as a rising star and would be at the top of the list of Democratic hopefuls to challenge Lieberman in 2012.)
Without Dodd as a foil, Republicans chances of taking over a seat in this solidly blue state are considerably diminished. Former Rep. Rob Simmons and wealthy businesswoman Linda McMahon are battling it out for the Republican nod but either would start as an underdog in a general election matchup with Blumenthal.
Dodd joins North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan on the sidelines for Democrats. Six Republicans Senators are not seeking re-election in November.
Dodd's retirement comes roughly two years after his presidential ambitions came to an end
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
The only way to stop them from stealing our earnings and our healthcare is by force.
Which we are not willing to do.
The challengers are new blood as well and they run on two issues.
Busting up that bullet proof senate and fiscal conservatism.
They make the case that all democrats are liberals and they can point to Ben Nelson and others.
NO MORE SPENDING, MO MORE BAILOUTS and NO MORE PORK.
But they are not smart.
They are not even close to smart.
I don’t think they have any idea what’s actually going on, or what to do about it, or if anything should be done about it. They don’t really stand for anything at all.
The GOP is just about the biggest group of mother cluckers I have ever seen in my life.
It’ll be a tough retirement . With Kennedy gone, he won’t even be able to make a sandwich.
Peter Schiff?
“Outta here, Roy. Outta here. One time, just one time. Atta boy. Atta boy, Roy.”
“The Natural”
Its just no longer fun making Waitress Sandwiches without ol’ Uncle Ted.
ping
Looks like the the poll that came out on Ma. US senate race is already hitting the corupt marxist in the guts and they’re seeing the writing on the wall.
Wait till Jan.20 th when they find out Scott Brown has beaten Marxist Coakley.The corrupt donkeys around the nation will slitting their wrist.
Don’t forget support Scott Brown for Ted Kennedys senate seat and help drown Pelosicare.
Scott will win.
kamakazi democrats!!! jihad on traditional america.
Dorgan quitting and now maybe Dodd. The RATs are leaving the sinking ship. We should easily get Dorgan’s seat but now Dodd’s may be a bit harder to switch.
What ticks me off is they vote for that disaterous healthcare piece of crap then blow out of Dodge. What a bunch of weasely cowards.
This is a good move for the Democratic Party. Dodd was finished, so it makes sense to get him to ‘retire’ and clear the way for someone not associated with the current Congress.
There is still going to be the general anti-Democrat backlash to deal with, as well as the traditional off-year election backlash, but the individual “lightning rod” is out of the picture. If that moves the polls a couple points in Connecticut, it could mean the difference between a GOP pickup and a Democratic hold.
One also imagines Dodd has already secured all manner of lucrative deals for himself in exchange for his ‘retirement’.
Sigh....the U.S. Congress is looking more and more like the Politburo all the time, folks.
could you please decode that “outta here, Roy” etc.
wish i could help the guy but my economy sucks. i will pray though, maybe that’ll help.
Schiff’s donations right now are at (rounded off) $1.5 Million.
And he’s loaded himself.
But it suits me that he's going.
He has stolen enough money from Countrywide and our government to live out his life.
Why are all these people retiring?
Just confirmed by NBC News Chuck Todd
http://hotairpundit.blogspot.com/2010/01/source-chris-dodd-expected-to-announce.html
I hope he and the others understand they will still be held accountable and possibly serve jail time.
Did he jump, or was he pushed?
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