Controversies Chris Dodd's power and popularity may have deteriorated for at least three reasons since his last re-election: • His poor performance in his bid for the
2008 Democratic presidential nomination appears to have soured local voters. Dodd was criticized for moving to Iowa and neglecting his Senate duties to pursue what many in Connecticut saw as a hopeless campaign. That poll, showing Dodd's job approval at 51% was taken before the scandals. • Dodd received mortgage loans as part of the
"Friends of Angelo Mozilo" program run by subprime mortgage lender
Countrywide Financial. The
Hartford Courant reported that Dodd had taken a "major credibility hit" from this scandal. A later poll in September 2008 showed Dodd's job approval declining to 43%, with 46% terming his job performance as "fair" or "poor". • On March 18, Dodd admitted responsibility for adding provisions in the
2009 stimulus package that allowed for
controversial employee bonuses. He had previously denied responsibility, saying the
Administration pushed for the bonus clauses. Dodd only admitted wrongdoing after an unnamed source within the Treasury Department provided insider information to CNN. On March 19, after Dodd came forward,
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner took full responsibility, saying he pushed Dodd against executive bonus limits. In December 2008, it was reported that Dodd had a little less than $670,000 banked for a re-election campaign, far less than other senators anticipated to seek re-election. In February 2009, a poll indicated that Dodd's favorability ratings were slipping, and many Connecticut voters were not satisfied with Dodd's explanations regarding the mortgage. On March 17, 2009, the
NRSC released a web ad attacking Dodd for his Irish cottage, his mortgage, and his relocation to
Iowa in 2007.
Election troubles On March 2, 2009, noted pundit
Michael Barone suggested Dodd was "ripe for the picking" in the 2010 election due to the fallout from his various controversies.
Nate Silver of
FiveThirtyEight suggested that if necessary, another Connecticut Democrat should primary Dodd. Silver rated Dodd as the single most vulnerable incumbent senator up for re-election in 2010. On December 10, 2009, the Cook Political Report listed this race as "Lean Republican." Democratic gubernatorial candidate
Susan Bysiewicz was quoted suggesting Dodd's yet unannounced re-election bid could be a drag on the candidacies of other Connecticut Democrats in 2010. Many political leaders speculated Dodd could be persuaded to retire so as to preserve his "senior statesman" legacy. Fellow Connecticut Senator
Joe Lieberman had indicated that he would have supported Dodd's reelection, despite past disagreements, including Dodd's
2006 endorsement of
Ned Lamont and Lieberman's support of
John McCain's
2008 Presidential Campaign. In fundraising reports issued for the first quarter of 2009, Dodd reported having raised over $1 million, but reported only five contributions from Connecticut residents.
Polling A March 2009
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute poll confirmed Dodd's vulnerability. On April 2, 2009, Quinnipiac released a poll indicating Dodd in serious danger of losing re-election, despite the fact that Connecticut is a heavily
blue state that President Obama won in 2008 with over 60% of the vote. He failed to attain a 50% level of support against three lesser known possible Republican opponents. Former U.S. Congressman
Rob Simmons (R) in particular was leading in general election polling with double digit margins, and Simmons reached as high as 51% in a GQR poll. Notably,
Rasmussen Reports had Simmons 48% to 35% over Dodd in December 2009, a thirteen-point spread. == Democratic nomination ==