Chris Dodd 2008 presidential campaign

Chris Dodd for President 2008
File:ChrisDodd08.gif
Campaign	U.S. presidential election, 2008
Candidate	Christopher Dodd U.S. Senate (1981-present)
Affiliation	Democratic Party
Headquarters	Hartford, Connecticut
Key people	Sheryl Cohen (Manager) Jim Jordan (Senior Advisor)
Receipts	US$16.5 (2007-12-31)
Slogan	Restoring America's Standing in the World!
Website
www.chrisdodd.com

The 2008 presidential campaign of Christopher Dodd was launched on January 11 2007 and ended on January 3 2008 after a sixth place finish in the Iowa caucuses. Dodd, the senior senator from Connecticut, sought the nomination of the Democratic Party for President of the United States. Centering his campaign in the strategically important states of Iowa and New Hampshire, he tried to bring forth a platform of change. Dodd's performance in the opinion polls varied, but in the financial sphere, he had secured some notable and influential endorsements who had sufficiently funded his campaign.

Dodd tried to follow in the pattern of New Englanders who have entered the race for the Democratic nomination and won, including John Kerry, Michael Dukakis, and John F. Kennedy. If elected, Dodd would have become the second Roman Catholic president (after Kennedy) and the second Connecticut-born president (after George W. Bush). He would have been the first senator to win the presidency while in office since Kennedy was elected in 1960.

Political positions

Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT)

Main article: Political positions of Chris Dodd

During his years in the House and Senate, Christopher Dodd built a long record of political positions on important issues to the nation. He is in favor of ending the Iraq War and bringing America's troops home, and has repeatedly voted against further funding of the war. He has declared that the nation "must take a 'strategic pause'" before signing any new free trade agreements. To improve America's civil liberties, he has introduced legislation to enact a federal shield law and worked against legislation permitting warrantless surveillance. He has proposed a carbon tax in order to influence the free market to reduce carbon emissions and help stop global warming. Dodd has proposed mandatory community service for all high school students, and fought to improve child care and health care. He has worked to stop predatory lending by credit card companies.

Groundwork for campaign

Christopher Dodd had told the Associated Press in April 2006 that he was considering running, and by May 22 he had met with key backers, including congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, and had assembled a team to prepare a potential 2008 campaign. In June 2006, he held his first major fundraiser, stunning Beltway commentators by raising over $1 million in one night. Dodd attended a Florida Democratic convention in July 2006 to garner further support.

On December 22 2006, Dodd hired former John Kerry campaign manager Jim Jordan. Dodd told the head of the New Hampshire Democratic Party at the Rainbow Cafe that he was not "going to do the exploratory thing, I'm going to plunge right in."

Campaign trail

First half 2007

Chris Dodd addressing the United States Conference of Mayors while campaigning in January 2007

Chris Dodd discusses his campaign on a March 2007 edition of Face the State

Christopher Dodd entered the race on January 11, 2007 after making his announcement on the Imus in the Morning show. He cited his qualifications of experience and background as the strengths needed to lead the nation as President. A critic of the Iraq War, Dodd stated that his candidacy "...isn't just [about] Iraq -- there are problems here at home that are huge." He decided not to file with the FEC under an exploratory committee but instead filed as a full-fledged candidate. He began campaigning in the state of South Carolina on January 15 2007 and hit the trails to New Hampshire on January 20.

On April 26, Dodd participated in the first of many Democratic presidential debates. His campaign has been critical of how little time their candidate has been allotted to speak at the debates, and its website introduced a "Talk Clock" demonstrating this disparity.

Second half 2007

Dodd delivering a campaign speech in October 2007

On July 23, he participated in the CNN-YouTube debate. Dodd was fielded many questions during the debate including the very first. He received questions ranging from discussion about his hair to Iraq. When asked about his position on gay marriage, he stated:

I've made the case, Anderson, that -- my wife and I have two young daughters, age 5 and 2. I'd simply ask the audience to ask themselves the question that Jackie and I have asked: How would I want my two daughters treated if they grew up and had a different sexual orientation than their parents? Good jobs, equal opportunity, to be able to retire, to visit each other, to be with each other, as other people do. So I feel very strongly, if you ask yourself the question, "How would you like your children treated if they had a different sexual orientation than their parents?," the answer is yes. They ought to have that ability in civil unions. I don't go so far as to call for marriage. I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. But my state of Connecticut, the state of New Hampshire, have endorsed civil unions. I strongly support that. But I don't go so far as marriage.

— Christopher Dodd

In October the Dodd campaign focused its attention on Iowa, abandoning most of the campaigning in New Hampshire. On the trail, the campaign received little media attention despite a surge in appearances. As the month neared its final days an unexpected apex emerged for the campaign. During an October 30 MSNBC debate, he went after the frontrunner Hillary Clinton, slamming her for her support of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's plan to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants:

SEN. CLINTON: I just want to add, I did not say that it should be done, but I certainly recognize why Governor Spitzer is trying to do it. And we have failed --
SEN. DODD: Wait a minute. No, no, no. You said yes, you thought it made sense to do it.
SEN. CLINTON: No, I didn't, Chris. But the point is, what are we going to do with all these illegal immigrants who are (driving ?) -- (inaudible)?
SEN. DODD: Well, that's a legitimate issue. But driver's license goes too far, in my view.
SEN. CLINTON: Well, you may say that, but what is the identification if somebody runs into you today who is an undocumented worker --
SEN. DODD: There's ways of dealing with that.
SEN. CLINTON: Well, but --
SEN. DODD: This is a privilege, not a right.
SEN. CLINTON: Well, what Governor Spitzer has agreed to do is to have three different licenses; one that provides identification for actually going onto airplanes and other kinds of security issues, another which is an ordinary driver's license, and then a special card that identifies the people who would be on the road.
SEN. DODD: That's a bureaucratic nightmare.

Later in the debate Dodd articulated his support for the decriminalization of marijuana citing the high populations of American prisons. Many of the participants expressed their disagreement with him on this issue. The debate was the last campaign stop for Dodd in October who went into November with energy and momentum from the multiple exchanges.

Dodd spent most of December in Iowa engaged in town halls. He briefly made a trip to Mountain View, CA to make a speech before returning to the trails in Iowa. He participated in the last Democratic Debate before the primary season on December 13 in Johnson, Iowa. In this debate sponsored by the Des Moines Register, Dodd commented that education was the most important issue to him in the campaign. He also made a statement on why he felt he was the best choice for president and why he should receive the endorsement of the Des Moines Register, which ultimately went to Hillary Clinton.

Thank you. Let me begin by thanking Iowans. We've been warmly and graciously received, and we're grateful to the state for all of that. One of the things I’ve tried to do is talk about positive ideas and results here. I think Iowa ns, like other Americans, want to know not only what you're going to do, but also give us some sense that you've got a record that you believe in ideas that brings people together. It's what I’ve done for 26 years, working to bring Democrats and Republicans together. I’m a former Peace Corps volunteer, I’m the only candidate to have done that public service, and we believe very strong strongly that that kind of background and history contributes well to the decisions a president must make. We ask for your vote. It's about choosing the best candidate who can win and who can lead our country.

— Christopher Dodd

2008

Dodd participated in the Iowa Caucus on January 3, 2008. After receiving a disappointing total of 0% of the vote he ended his campaign. In his final words on the trail, He reflected on the joy he had in running for president.

Tonight I am withdrawing from the Presidential race. But let me assure you, we do not exit this race with our heads hanging - rather, we do so with our heads held high... I think we all knew from the very beginning that ... this would be an uphill battle...only when you try can you truly make a difference in this world, and I'm truly glad I tried.

— Christopher Dodd

Fundraising

The Dodd campaign had raised $13,598,152 overall, spent $9,723,278 leaving $3,874,874 cash on hand. Alec Baldwin donated $2,100 during a New York fundraiser. John Lithgow and Barbra Streisand each added $1,000 and Steve Martin and Howard Stringer each gave $2,300. Jeffrey Bewkes, Lorne Michaels, Paul Simon and his wife each donated the most at $4,600 followed closely behind by Ronald Meyer who donated $4,400. Elisabeth Shue donated $1,500 and Christy Romano added $300. On October 26, the New London's The Day reported that through September Dodd's campaign received $21,600 from employees of Connecticut's Foxwoods Casino and an additional $2,300 from the Mashantucket Pequot's political action committee. According to the financial records, 60% of Dodd's donations came from individual contributors. 4% of donations came from PACs, which overwhelming were related to groups with business agendas. The following chart shows the amount raised in the top three states by Dodd and in the states he had been campaigning in the most, Iowa and New Hampshire:

State	Funds Raised
New York	$2,062,410
Connecticut	$2,046,017
California	$563,395
Iowa	$10,150
New Hampshire	$26,300

Polling

The straw poll victory in South Carolina landed Dodd the state in Democratic Straw Polls

In polling, Dodd has seemed unable to break through to the top tier. In Nationwide polls he usually only polls at or around 1%. A November 7, 2007 Gallup poll placed him in last place, behind both Joe Biden and Dennis Kucinich at 1%. Dodd also had disappointing showings at the state level. In a November 18, 2007 Iowa poll conducted by ABC news, he registered with 1% the same number from a similar poll done by ABC news on July 31, 2007. In New Hampshire, a poll conducted by CNN placed Dodd at 1% constant from a September poll but up from polls in June and July. However on the straw poll level, Dodd was able to gain a victory during an event in South Carolina on March 5, 2007. He won the York County straw poll by receiving 28% of the 100 votes cast. Barack Obama came in second with 24%. Hillary Clinton got 18% and John Edwards received 11%. The victory came two days after Dodd visited the county which probably secured him the win.

A November 2007 poll of Connecticut voters conducted by Quinnipiac University determined that Dodd was losing in the state to Hillary Rodham Clinton. Of the 1,029 voters surveyed, 70% wanted Dodd to drop out of the presidential race, and 55% said he was spending too much time on the campaign trail. In response, Dodd's national press secretary, Colleen Flanagan, said "Connecticut voters are being asked to look at Senator Dodd in a different light than in past years" adding that once voters become more focused on the presidential race, they will look to Dodd as "a candidate who has a track record of proven results."

Head to head

January 15-16, 2007 Rasmussen Reports

Chris Dodd	Rudy Giuliani
39%	44%

January 15-16, 2007 Rasmussen Reports

Chris Dodd	John McCain
33%	52%

Endorsements

Kennedy family

Dodd had received endorsements from members of the Kennedy family including Rhode Island Representative Patrick J. Kennedy and his brother Edward Kennedy Jr. Eunice Shriver had also campaigned for him. On 1 November, the campaign announced he had been endorsed by Bobby Shriver, co-founder of Debt AIDS Trade in Africa.. Dodd has asked Senator Ted Kennedy repeatedly for an endorsement. On November 20 2007, Timothy Shriver, the Chairman of Special Olympics announced his endorsement for Dodd.

Firefighters

On 28 August, Chris Dodd received the endorsement of the International Association of Fire Fighters. On October 24, in a speech before a International Association of Fire Fighters conference, he criticized the Bush administration's failure to fully fund first responders battling the massive wildfires in Southern California.

Campaign advisors

Dodd's campaign advisors included:

• Sheryl Cohen, campaign manager and Dodd's Chief of Staff in the Senate
• Jim Jordan, senior adviser who served as the campaign manager for John Kerry in his 2004 presidential run
• Matt Butler, deputy campaign manager who served the same post during John Kerry's 2004 run
• Scott Arceneaux, political director and former director of the Louisiana State Democratic Party
• Amos Hochstein, policy director
• Stan Greenberg, pollster
• Doug Sosnik, adviser and former NBA executive

External links

• Official campaign website
• "Chris Dodd Campaign Events, by State". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-11-20.