Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) won't seek reelection in 2010

[liberalpragmatist]

Dodd has announced he is running for president in '08 and has said in a letter to the FEC that he will not be a candidate for reelection in 2010. If his presidential run fails, it'll be interesting to see if he jumps back in or if he's definitively out.

http://www.cqpolitics.com/2007/01/sen_dodd_not_to_run_for_reelec.html

Sen. Dodd Not To Run for Re-Election In 2010, Uses PAC to Buy NH and IA Voter Files
By Political MoneyLine Staff | 3:04 PM; Jan. 19, 2007 | Email This Article

Sen. Christopher Dodd, through his counsel, has sent a letter to the Federal Election Commission stating he “is no longer a candidate in the 2010 election for the United States Senate in Connecticut.”

This letter helps set the stage for his Senate campaign committee, Friends of Chris Dodd, to declare it has excess funds and transfer the funds to his presidential campaign committee, Chris Dodd for President Inc. His Senate campaign committee reported $1,855,961 cash-on-hand as of 9/30. This amount will probably change with financial activity during the fourth quarter of 2006. His year-end report is due by 1/31/07.

[skipos]

1. The fewer senators from New England trying to be Pres, the better.

He seems like a good guy though.

[Arugula Latte]

4. He's been too cozy with Traitor Joe Lieberman for my taste.

However, I don't know much else about him.

[Pirate Smile]

2. He has to do this to transfer his $$$ to his presidential campaign BUT

if he loses the primary, he can change his mind and decide to run.

edit to add this from The Hotline:

"Dodd: About His "Retirement" Announcement

The NYTimes web site carried a PoliticalMoneyline story with the headline: "Sen. Dodd Not To Run for Re-Election In 2010."

Well, while legally true, CT Dems shouldn't start licking their chops about the supposed "open seat" in three years. In order to transfer all of his money he raised for his 2010 re-election to his WH campaign account without penalty, he had to file a statement with the FEC saying he wouldn't run. It's simply an accounting thing, nothing more. In fact, should Dodd not be elected POTUS in '08, he, indeed can legally open a new Senate 2010 account. He did this so that he could raise maximum amounts from donors who gave to that 2010 campaign account.

An inquiry to Dodd's campaign about the above mentioned story prompted the following response from spokesperson Beneva Schulte: "It's a legality that isn't an indication of future plans."

God love the FEC and its confusing rules on raising federal money. "

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/01/dodd_about_his.html

[jcrew2001]

3. RFK

Maybe RFK jr can move to Stamford or Greenwich and run for senator!