We owe Chris Dodd a debt of gratitude for doing the right thing today. Some of his problems were self inflicted. Most were not, but none of that matters in politics, where perception so often makes reality.
He was an excellent Senator, and a year from November that’s the way most people will remember him, too late, unfortunately, for this November. We’re lucky that we have a strong bench here in Connecticut. We now have to hope that Simmons both stays in the race and gets the nomination. Blumenthal will grind him up. Simmons didn’t beat Sam Gejdenson in 2000; Sam beat himself. Simmons’ only hope this year was for Dodd to beat himself, and now that hope is gone. Simmons fundraising has been anemic at best, considering that Dodd was considered so vulnerable. The money will now dry up awfully fast. Here’s hoping it doesn’t dry up so much that he drops out. I may be alone in this, but I worry about McMahon. Money talks in this country.
I just got a phone call from a friend who congratulated me on correctly predicting that Dodd would drop out. I would feel better about my prescience if I had any recollection of doing so. He says he has witnesses, so I guess I did.
By the way, don’t be fooled by the media’s willingness to spread the Republican meme about Democrats jumping ship, or, as ABC reported, about Democrats “dropping like flies“. More Republicans Senators, Congresspersons and Governors have chosen not to run than Democrats in like offices. That doesn’t mean the Democrats won’t have it tough this November. They have turned off their base and the Independents too. They are naturally situated ideologically to spend the next year slamming Wall Street, which might bring them back into the good graces of the electorate, but they won’t do it. And, with Chris gone,they are poised to put Wall Street’s best friend in charge of the Banking Committee, something they will surely do (assuming they manage to hold onto the Senate) rather than disturb the collegiality of the Senate. After all, what’s more important, good feeling among Senators, or the American people?
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