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Only 5 Connecticut Residents Donated to Dodd

April 17, 2009 By Jeff 1 Comment

Senator Chris Dodd has a problem, he supposedly represents the people of Connecticut in the Senate but he’s apparently having to look elsewhere for campaign cash… Only $4,250  of $604,745 raised during the first three months of 2009 by Chris Dodd for 2010 his re-election campaign came from Connecticut residents:

Sen. Chris Dodd appears to have looked everywhere but his home state to fuel what pundits anticipate will be one of the most hotly contested races in the nation in 2010.

The five-term incumbent reported raising just $4,250 from five Connecticut residents, including one from Redding, during the first three months of the year while raking in $604,745 from nearly 400 individuals living outside the state.

Dodd’s five Connecticut contributors are:

  • James McDermott of Watertown, an attorney at Holland Knight, $2,000
  • Robert Patricelli of Simsbury, executive at Women Health USA, $1,000
  • Elaine Wilson of Redding, homemaker, $500
  • Richard Mulready of West Hartford, executive at Servus Corp., $500
  • George Finley of South Glastonbury, self-employed consultant, $250

While incumbents often turn to special interests for early campaign fundraising, Dodd’s out-of-state total seems unusually high and comes at a time when he has been plagued by poor approval ratings among state voters.

I’ve written previously about Sen. Dodd’s dismally low approval ratings, they’re a problem not only for Sen Dodd but for his Republican challengers. The 2010 mid-terms are still a long way off but if Dodd’s  poll numbers stay where they are there’s a good chance Democrats will ask him to step aside to make room for a stronger candidate.

Greenwich First Selectmen Roger Pearson is reportedly considering a primary challenge to Dodd. Pearson isn’t well known outside Greenwich and I’m not sure how he’d fair in a statewide race…

Bottom line we need Chris Dodd politically wounded not dead. Wounded he’s vulnerable and there’s good chance Rob Simmons or Sam Caligiuri could win the seat.

If Sen. Dodd’s poll numbers stay where they are he’s politically dead and I have to think a generic Democrat is probably all it would take to hold the seat.

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Chris Dodd’s Approval Numbers Sink To New Lows

April 2, 2009 By Jeff 1 Comment

The hits just keep coming for Sen Chris Dodd (D-CT)… The latest Quinnipiac Poll shows his approval numbers have dropped to 33 percent and that trails both likely Republican challengers, former Congressmen Rob Simmons and state Sen. Sam Caligiuri in head to head match ups:

Dodd’s new 33 percent rating, a dip from 49 percent in a March 10 poll, is “especially devastating” considering he is a longtime incumbent Democrat in a solidly blue state, Schwartz said.

“His numbers are so poor that voters are looking for a credible alternative to him,” Schwartz said. “I’ve never seen a politician fall so far, so fast.”

Many of those surveyed were concerned over Dodd’s role in the recent flap over $165 million in bonuses that American International Group Inc. paid some of its employees while receiving billions in federal bailout money.

Dodd spokesman Bryan DeAngelis said Thursday the senator will not comment on the poll and remains “focused on his job, fighting for the people of Connecticut.”

The poll also found Dodd trails his two announced Republican challengers, former GOP Congressman Rob Simmons and Connecticut state Sen. Sam Caligiuri. It shows Simmons defeating Dodd by a margin of 50 percent to 34 percent, and Caligiuri winning 41 percent to 37 percent.

The 2010 midterm elections are still a long way off, but the internals of the poll are train wreck for Sen. Dodd… His favorability rating has sunk to a -28, with 58% of respondents having an unfavorable opinion of him versus only 30% favorable.  Fifty-four percent say that Sen. Dodd is “not honest and trustworthy,” while 52% say he doesn’t care about their problems.

If Sen. Dodd’s approval numbers don’t improve dramatically it would be political suicide for him to seek reelection and I can’t Democrat party leaders would even let him run.

Update (10:50 p.m.): Ramesh Ponnuru raises a good point over at the Corner:

Dodd’s Numbers are bad news for Republicans, aren’t they? If the Democrats get Dodd to withdraw, or someone beats him in the primary, the seat becomes much harder to take. Republicans need him bleeding but not dead.

Very true, Dodd’s sagging poll numbers are double edged sword for Republicans, they prove he’s vulnerable but if they stay the way they are there’s a good chance he’ll asked to withdraw or be beaten in primary. Which will make the seat harder to take.

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