In the days when nominations were largely decided at the conventions, a candidate like Dodd or Biden would have been in their element. Dodd's the kind of candidate whose ideal election strategy would have been a lot like Abraham Lincoln's--don't piss anyone off, be everyone's second choice. When the first few ballots passed without a winner, Dodd would be the candidate everyone turned to.

He's my second choice, him and Kucinich, not that it really does either of them any good. I still like Edwards' message about poverty too much to switch my vote. But both Dodd and Kucinich have been showing real leadership in the House and Senate while Clinton and Obama, and even Biden, have just been talking a good game. If Edwards is out by the time Texas votes, I'll cast my primary vote for Dodd or Kucinich--whichever one's still in the race.

I could like Chris Dodd. Show me more.

... Hillary has the most experience deflecting (and surviving) personal attacks.

Yeah!

Shapiro is right about Chris Dodd's surprising strength of issues and presentation, but wrong that he's not drawing crowds or cameras. Dodd spoke to nearly two hundred people in a backyard in Ames earlier this fall, on a gray drizzly day (a lot like this one), and ended up on C-Span's "Road to the White House."

http://www.c-span.org/search/basic.asp?ResultStart=1&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=Chris+Dodd&image1.x=0&image1.y=0&image1=Submit

That's me at the end of the clip, asking him about impeachment, in the rain. He's against it; we disagree, but I still admire him.

The Iowa Caucus being the nearly unique animal it is, you can vote more than once. I think, based on his combination of domestic and foreign policy experience (Edwards is better domestically, Richardson and Biden internationally, but no one candidate on either side combines Dodd's strengths), he's a good bet for a first ballot vote. If he doesn't attain viability (fifteen percent of votes cast in a precinct), then it's Edwards.

Edwards will move on anyway, but it would be great to see a candidate of Dodd's stature recognized. He got into the race late and is chronically underfunded, but that doesn't mean people don't respond to him and like what they see. Iowans have a record of changing their minds at the last minute, so it's not too late for Dodd.

or any way to get indys on the demos

Thoughout this campaign I have been annoyed by the way the media has covered it, as if there are The Big Three, Obama, Edwards, Clinton, who merit our frenzied attention and that the others are also rans. It is infuriating that the Big Three were annointed as they were; because of what? A glamour guy (and I do like this emphasis on poverty) who lost the Vice Presidency, a black man (whose oratory I love when he's willing to use his charisma) who handicaps himself with fake civility, and a woman (whom I respect enormously) who just happens to be a high profile senator and former First Lady. In the era of Paris and Britney, mere substance is useless. The media likes its stars, fixates on them and engages in public gossip and never flags on covering vitriol.

Hillary is playing the gender card. Blah, blah, blah. Obama is attacking sporadically. Blah, blah, blah. Edwards goes for the jugular. Blah, blah, blah. We talk about cleavage and hairdos and race and gender. Elizabeth Edwards takes Anne Coulter to task. Maureen Dowd says Hillary isn't dateable. (How in the hell does she know? Has she ever gone out with her?) Once in a great while someone actually says something real.

Dodd just did that. With logic and precision, he critiqued Hillary's alleged strength, experience, and found her wanting. Guess what people will probably talk about? His wife's age.

When Kucinich raises important issues they want to talk about his wife's tongue ring. When Richardson actually says something worth discussing -- should human rights ever come before national security? -- he is dismissed as a loon. When Biden talks about the realities of the war, he is overlooked again and again because we don't like the war and we don't really want to hear about it, do we?

I'll give The Big Three this: There isn't much to attack them on. There isn't much. At least we know the jewelry industry can be happy. Thanks to CNN, it's diamonds and pearls.

Spot on.

Too bad that Chris Dodd does not believe hedge fund profits ought to be taxed the same as earnings in wages. As I cast about for s suitable presidential candidate it's discouraging to see that Democrats have distinct preferential treatment for its "haves" base. I was attracted to him because of his "hold" on Rockefeller's FISA, but alas!

too bad no one is listening to the man of la mancha from alaska. mike gravel is the only candidate to address what's wrong with america, instead of promoting himself as a better captain of the sinking ship.

the american constitution was one very small step forward from georgian monarchy, but that was a long time ago. the disasters imposed by the reign of george w should encourage americans to move on to democracy. elective monarchy is just not good enough.

Everutime I hear chris Dodd or Joe Biden in a debate or the rare occassion when an appearance or policy statement actually gets some glancing press coverage I'm left to wonder why these two candidates aren't fueling this campaign.I have heard nothing, NOTHING, of substance from the top three. John Edwards talks a good game, but I question whether there's much behind it. Hillar Clinton, dodgy, dishonest, political hack, keep her. Obama, empty suit. To me, he's just a media creation. Biden and Dodd both know what it really takes to turn things around and aren't afraid to lay in on the line...and both have the experience to back it up. And I think both could rise above the toxic partisan rancor we're mired in.

Imagine what might actually be accomplished with a biden/dodd or Dodd/Biden adminstration.