A Chamber Full of Candidates [ Will Chris Dodd run for president in 2004?]

For such a small state, Connecticut seems to nurture big political ambitions. Advisers to Christopher Dodd tell TIME that the state's senior Senator is seriously weighing the idea of joining the 2004 Democratic-primary field-which already includes a Connecticut Senator, Joseph Lieberman. Aides expect Dodd to announce his decision within the next few weeks.

Now in his third decade in the Senate, Dodd, 58, is good on television, has deep experience on both domestic and international issues, and brings a well-developed political network from his days as Democratic Party chairman. With the Senate looking as though it could stay in Republican hands for the near future, those close to Dodd say he is restless there. But he's wrestling with the toll that a presidential bid could take on both his Senate career and his role as father of an 18-month-old daughter.

Advisers say Dodd is also concerned that he may be too late to join a field that is already crowded with fellow U.S. Senators. The list includes not only Lieberman but also John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina. Florida's Bob Graham is moving ahead with plans to run, despite his recent heart surgery, and will decide by March 1. Nor has Delaware's Joseph Biden ruled out a presidential bid. All of which means that Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, who earlier backed off an expected run, could find it pretty lonely in the Senate cloakroom next January.

If he runs, Dodd has some dirty laundry hanging out there that will get some in-depth attention. Here's an issue from back in 1997 that may come back to bite him:

Senator Thomas Dodd was co-chairman of the DNC during the Asiagate fundraising scandals of the Clinton years, and Leon Panetta was Clinton Chief of Staff. Both were heavily involved in Clinton illegal fundraising and the coverup up of the role of the DNC in the scandals.

On April 10, 1997, USA Today ran an article that took up nearly half a page titled "Fund-raising ties could trip Democrats' Dodd", which focused on Dodd's evolving and conflicting statements about his role in the illegal fundraising:

February: "I was very clearly asked to do the job of being chief spokesman for the party. I could not do fund raising. I couldn't do day-to-day operations."

March: "If money came up it was infinitesmal."

April: "I did some fund-raising. But my primary responsibility was to be the spokesman."

Just one more set of lies that characterized the Clinton years and the continuing role of the Democrat party as it continues it's established pattern of deception and coverup.

And Mr. Dodd seems to think we will just forget his role in it. That won't happen.

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