 | |
| Campaign | U.S. presidential election, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Candidate | Chris Dodd U.S. senator fromConnecticut (1981–2011) |
| 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 | |
| chrisdodd.com (archived - April 2, 2008) | |
The2008 presidential campaign ofChris Dodd was launched on January 11, 2007, and ended on January 3, 2008, after a sixth-place finish in theIowa caucuses.[1] Dodd, thesenior senator fromConnecticut, sought the nomination of theDemocratic Party forpresident of the United States. Centering his campaign in the states ofIowa andNew Hampshire, he centred his campaign on the theme of change. Dodd's performance inthe opinion polls varied, but in the financial sphere, he had secured some notable and influential endorsements who were the ones largely funding his campaign.
Dodd tried to follow in the pattern ofNew Englanders who entered the race for the Democratic nomination and won, includingJohn Kerry,Michael Dukakis, andJohn F. Kennedy. If elected, Dodd would have become the secondRoman Catholic president (after Kennedy) and the second Connecticut-born president (afterGeorge W. Bush). He would have been the first senator to win the presidency while in office since Kennedy waselected in 1960 (that honor ultimately went toBarack Obama). After his withdrawal from the race, Dodd went on to endorse the eventual winner Barack Obama,[2] and retired from the Senate in 2011.
During his years in the House and Senate, Dodd built a long record of political positions on important issues to the nation. He was in favor of ending theIraq War and redeploying American soldiers from the nation elsewhere. He repeatedly voted against further funding of the war.[3]To combat global warming, he proposed acarbon tax to reducecarbon emissions,[4] and declared that the United States "must take a 'strategic pause'" before signing any newfree trade agreement.[5]
Domestically, Dodd proposed mandatorycommunity service for all high school students,[6] and fought to improvechild care andhealth care,[7] and worked to stoppredatory lending bycredit card companies.[8] He also introduced legislation to enact a FederalShield law and worked to defeat legislation permittingwarrantless surveillance.[9]
Dodd had told theAssociated Press in April 2006 that he was considering running, and by May 22 he had met with key backers, including congresswomanRosa DeLauro, and had assembled a team to preparea potential 2008 campaign. In June 2006, he held his first major fundraiser, stunningBeltway commentators by raising over $1 million in one night.[10] Dodd attended aFlorida Democratic convention in July 2006 to garner further support. He hired formerJohn Kerry campaign managerJim Jordan in December of that year.[11] Two months later, Dodd told the head of theNew Hampshire Democratic Party at the Rainbow Cafe that he was not "going to do the exploratory thing" but instead "plunge right in" to the race.[12]
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| Date | Location(s) | Event(s) |
|---|---|---|
| January 15 | West Columbia, SC Columbia, SC | Speeches, Appearance |
| January 19 | Hartford, CT | Rally |
| January 20 | Dover, NH Deerfield, NH Henniker, NH | Speech, Meeting, Appearance |
| January 21 | Hanover, NH | Speech |
Chris Dodd entered the race on January 11, 2007, after making his announcement on theImus 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 theIraq 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 theFEC under anexploratory committee but instead filed as a full-fledged candidate. He began campaigning in the state ofSouth Carolina on January 15, 2007, and hit the trails toNew Hampshire on January 20.[13]
| Date | Location(s) | Event(s) |
|---|---|---|
| February 15 | Nashua, NH Portsmouth, NH | Appearance, Meeting |
| February 16 | Bedford, NH Keene, NH | Speech, Meeting |
| February 19 | Des Moines, IA | Speech |
| February 20 | Iowa City, IA Cedar Rapids, IA | Fundraiser, Meeting |
| February 21 | Carson City, NV | Forum |
In February, Dodd turned his attention fully to the early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire.[14] When asked by theAssociated Press on the campaign trail if his campaigning really made a difference in changing public perceptions, he replied, "There is enough time yet to change this [public perceptions], because there are places like Iowa and New Hampshire that give candidates like myself a chance to be heard." Dodd's strategy was to speak to voters in restaurants, homes, and small-town diners, although political analysts wondered whether such methods were out-of-date. But he maintained that "chatting in a living room face to face is still a very important feature of campaigning here. I don't think you can come in here and do sort of a wholesale political operation from 35,000 feet (11,000 m) with a pit stop here and there and a media campaign behind you."[15] At the end of February, Dodd differentiated himself from his Democratic counterparts by stating his support for the Bush administration's willingness to hold joint talks withIran andSyria and by stating that as president he would avoid talking with Iran as long asMahmoud Ahmadinejad remained as president. On the trail, he referred to Ahmadinejad as a "thug".[16]
| Date | Location(s) | Event(s) |
|---|---|---|
| March 14 | Washington D.C | Speech, Forum |
| March 17 | Concord, NH Hampton, NH | Speeches |
| March 18 | Manchester, NH | Speech |
| March 23 | Las Vegas, NV | Rally |
| March 24 | Las Vegas, NV Henderson, NV | Forum, Ceremony |
| March 28 | Washington D.C. | Speech, Forum |
Before Dodd hit the campaign trail for March after a round of campaigning in February, he made a visit toThe Daily Show withJon Stewart,[17] a well-worn path laid by candidates trying to reach a younger audience.[18] The campaign set up aweb page before the March 13 interview. Liberalbloggers praised the behind the scenes look at the campaign as innovative and creative. A posting on the Comedy Central show's blog read: "This was a fascinating look behind the scenes of the show even for us, and a surprisingly cool thing for a Presidential candidate to do. Senator Dodd, we salute both your commitment to fiscal responsibility and your web-savvy."[18] After the visit Dodd campaigned in New Hampshire andNevada finishing the month at a forums inLas Vegas andWashington, D.C. At the Las Vegas Forum, he discussedhealth care with the other Democratic candidates and voiced his support for a system ofUniversal Health Care.[19] As March came to a close the campaign revealed their fundraising total for the First Quarter. Dodd raised $4,043,757 in this quarter, spend $1,313,239 and had $7,482,467 cash on hand.[20]
| Date | Location(s) | Event(s) |
|---|---|---|
| April 3 | Laconia, NH | Meeting |
| April 4 | Concord, NH Manchester, NH | Town Hall, Speech |
| April 10 | Wilmington, DE | Town Hall |
| April 11 | Des Moines, IA | Speech, Meeting |
| April 12 | Des Moines, IA Ames, IA | Meetings, Speech |
| April 13 | Pahrump, NV | Town Hall |
| April 19 | Washington D.C New York City, NY Manchester, NH | Speeches, Ceremony |
| April 20 | Hooksett, NH Hartford, CT | Speeches |
| April 21 | Conway, NH Plymouth, NH Littleton, NH | Meeting, House Parties |
| April 22 | Keene, NH | Speech |
| April 23 | Boston, MA | Debate |
| April 24 | Washington, D.C. | Speech |
| April 26 | Orangeburg, SC | Debate, Party Event |
| April 27 | Orangeburg, SC Charleston, SC Columbia, SC San Diego, CA | Meeting, Forum, Party Events, Speech |
| April 28 | San Diego, CA | Speech |
| April 29 | Sacramento, CA | Town Hall |
In April, Dodd campaigned in New Hampshire, Iowa, and returned to South Carolina. While on the trail Dodd participated in a virtual town hall sponsored by the websiteMoveOn.org. When he was asked the question "...what is the best and fastest way to get out of Iraq?" he answered, "We ought to start redeploying this evening...We ought to begin immediately. I would not wait any longer."[21] Continuing on the trail, Dodd sponsored what was called byThe Washington Post, the "most radical plan" to combatglobal warming. It included a corporatecarbon tax to be levied on corporations to reduce carbon emissions. The plan is part of a larger energy platform of the campaign.[22]
On April 26, Dodd participated in the first of manyDemocratic presidential debates.[23] 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.[24][25]
At the end of the month, Dodd set his sights on the state with the most convention votes,California by attending events inSacramento andSan Diego.
| Date | Location(s) | Event(s) |
|---|---|---|
| May 2 | San Francisco, CA | Speech |
| May 3 | West Des Moines, IA | Forum |
| May 4 | Ottumwa, IA Mt. Pleasant, IA Keokuk, IA | Meetings, Appearances, Townhall |
| May 5 | Burlington, IA West Liberty, IA West Branch, IA Muscatine, IA | Meetings, Appearance, Townhall |
| May 11 | Fort Mill, SC Portsmouth, NH Madbury, NH Manchester, NH | Appearance, Meetings, House Party |
| May 12 | Milford, NH Merrimack, NH Bow, NH | Appearance, House Parties |
| May 17 | Dubuque, IA | Speech |
| May 18 | Des Moines, IA | Townhall |
| May 26 | Laconia, NH Barrington, NH Portsmouth, NH | House Parties |
Early in May, Dodd continued to campaign in California for a few days but later shifted back to the strategically important states of Iowa and New Hampshire for the rest of the month. On May 15 the campaign released its first ad, which detailed his plan for ending the war in Iraq. In the ad, Dodd also criticized his fellow Democratic candidates by stating, "We can't simply wait for a new president. We should have the conviction to stand up to this one,"[26] In Washington, Dodd was exposed to debate on the Iraq War Spending Bill and new videos fromal-Qaeda's second in commandAyman al-Zawahiri. Back on the campaign trail he talked about how he would deal with foreign issues particularly in regards to the situation in Iraq, "I'm not going to let my foreign policy be decided by Mr. al-Zawahiri. Obviously, he's playing his game here. He'd probably like to see us stay down there, bogged down, at the costs we're increasing here, the loss of lives, not to mention the isolation of the United States." When Presidential candidateJohn Edwards released an ad criticizing Congress' failure to end the Iraq War, Dodd took it personal and shot back at Edwards stating, ""With all due respect, we could have used John's vote here in the Senate on these issues here."[27] He concluded the May campaign by attending House parties in three cities in New Hampshire. .[28]
| Date | Location | Event |
|---|---|---|
| June 2 | Cedar Rapids, IA Concord, NH | Speeches |
| June 3 | Manchester, NH | Appearance, Debate |
| June 8 | New York City, NY | Speech |
| June 9 | Waterloo, IA Waverly, IA Mason City, IA | Meetings, Townhall |
| June 10 | Sioux City, IA | Townhall |
| June 11 | New York City, NY | Fundraiser |
| June 23 | Hartford, CT Amherst, NH Nashua, NH Manchester, NH | Appearance, House Parties, Town Hall |
| June 24 | Rochester, NH Concord, NH | Meetings |
| June 25 | Iowa City, IA Cedar Rapids, IA | Appearance, Meeting |
| June 26 | Iowa City, IA | Speech |
| June 28 | Washington D.C | Forum |
| June 30 | Lake Buena Vista, FL | Forum |
June started off as all the previous months had, with Dodd campaigning in New Hampshire and Iowa,[14][28] but at the June 3 debate inManchester he made a notable statement that led to a huge applause from the crowd. During the debate he pointed out a woman in the audience whose husband was fighting in thewar on terrorism, he thanked her for the sacrifice and stated the importance of standing up for America's security while on the campaign trail, "No one is going to be elected president who is not going to have as their primary responsibility to keep us safe and secure."[29] After the debate Dodd went back to the trails, but while campaigning he found a new tool to help spread his message. The campaign encouraged voters to confront politicians with video cameras and ask them to talk about Iraq and to support the "Dodd Amendment" which would have required American troops to start redeployment in 30 days. The final step was for the voters to post the interactions onYouTube. The Dodd campaign has used theinternet more frequently than other campaigns, often airing staff meetings via the web.[30] The campaign released a new advertisement on June 16 entitled "Amazing Grace" which focused on Dodd's time in thePeace Corps.[31] As June came to a close Dodd made his final appearance of the month at a forum inLake Buena Vista, Florida, the first time he visited the state which moved up its primary dates, causing a controversy with theDNC. On June 30 the campaign revealed the fundraising totals for the second quarter, Dodd raised $3,250,730, spent $4,384,580 and had a total of $6,378,271 cash on hand.[32]
| Date | Location(s) | Event(s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 2 | Philadelphia, PA | Speech |
| July 3 | Davenport, IA Burlington, IA Ottumwa, IA Des Moines, IA | Appearances, Townhall, Meeting |
| July 4 | Norwalk, IA Pleasantville, IA Wellman, IA Coralville, IA Cedar Rapids, IA | Appearances, Meeting |
| July 5 | Clinton, IA Dubuque, IA Waterloo, IA Waverly, IA | Appearances |
| July 6 | Mason City, IA Fort Dodge, IA Sioux City, IA | Appearances |
| July 7 | Carroll, IA Council Bluffs, IA | Appearances |
| July 10 | Fort Dodge, IA | Appearance |
| July 12 | Detroit, MI Las Vegas, NV | Forum, Appearance |
| July 13 | Reno, NV Carson City, NV | Town Halls, Appearance |
| July 15 | Salem, NH Plymouth, NH | Appearance, Meeting |
| July 16 | Berlin, NH Grantham, NH | Appearance, House Party |
| July 20 | Des Moines, IA | Appearance |
| July 21 | Des Moines, IA | Meetings, Appearances |
| July 22 | Indianola, IA Londonderry, NH Orangeburg, SC | Meetings, Ceremony |
| July 23 | Charleston, SC | Debate, Appearance |
| July 26 | Marion, IA Waterloo, IA | House Parties |
| July 27 | Dyersville, IA Dubuque, IA West Union, IA | Meetings |
| July 28 | Waukon, IA Elkader, IA Anamosa, IA North Liberty, IA | Meetings, Appearance |
Early in July, the Dodd campaign's strategy to usesocial networking sites was documented by the press. The campaign uses the network MyLifeBrand which allows Dodd supporters to be linked to other users from other social networking websites. The goal was to bring supporters together and attract new supporters.[33]On July 6 singerPaul Simon joined Dodd on the campaign trail in Iowa as Dodd embarked on a five-day "River to River" tour in a big blue bus with the name "Dodd" etched on the side.[34] Dodd simultaneously continued his campaign on the web airing live staff meetings and a live chatroom on July 23. The campaign launched a show called D-TV which the Washington Post labeled as the "politicalTruman Show".[35] On July 23, he participated in theYouTube debate broadcast onCNN. 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 ongay 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.
— Chris Dodd
When asked to comment about thegenocide in Darfur and the moral leadership of the United States, Dodd answered that the situation in "Iraq is related to Darfur, Anderson, here. It's because we're bogged down there at $10 billion a month, we've lost our moral leadership in the world. No one listens to us when it comes to foreign policy. That has to change in this country. That's the difference here."[36]July campaigning wrapped up in Iowa with visits to seven cities in two days from July 27–28.[14]
| Date | Location(s) | Event(s) |
|---|---|---|
| August 4 | Chicago, IL Las Vegas, NV | Forum, Appearances |
| August 5 | Boulder City, NV | Meeting |
| August 8 | Manchester, NH Concord, NH | Forum, House Party |
| August 9 | Bartlett, NH Tilton, NH Nelson, NH Studio City, CA | Speech, Meetings, Forum |
| August 10 | Peterborough, NH Nashua, NH Manchester, NH | Appearances |
| August 11 | Portsmouth, NH Newmarket, NH Exeter, NH | Appearances, House Party |
| August 13 | Des Moines, IA | Meetings, Appearances |
| August 14 | Adel, IA Boone, IA Fort Dodge, IA | Townhalls |
| August 15 | Webster City, IA Waterloo, IA Tama, IA | Townhall, Forum, Appearance |
| August 16 | Marshalltown, IA Des Moines, IA | Appearance, Speech, House Parties |
| August 17 | Newton, IA Muscatine, IA Eldridge, IA | Appearances |
| August 18 | Clinton, IA Cedar Rapids, IA | Appearance, Forum |
| August 19 | Des Moines, IA Indianola, IA Urbandale, IA | Debate, Party Events, House Party |
| August 20 | Des Moines, IA Washington D.C | Meetings |
| August 28 | Washington D.C | Ceremony |
| August 30 | Iowa City, IA Des Moines, IA Council Bluffs, IA | Rallies |
| August 31 | Manchester, NH | Rally |
August was by far the busiest month for the Dodd campaign. It started off with the candidate criticizing the merger of Murdoch-WSJ starting a debate overmedia ethics. Dodd stated on August 1, "I am deeply troubled by the incredible amount of consolidation occurring across the American media landscape."[37] On August 7 during a debate before theAFL–CIO inChicago Dodd touted his experience in fighting for the rights oflabor unions by stating, "I'm proud to say for 26 years on every major issue that labor's been involved in I've stood with you. I've stood with labor in banning outsourcing of jobs, of offset contracts, of situs picketing, on plant closing legislation." He also got into an argument with fellow SenatorBarack Obama (D-IL) on Obama's recent comments about escalating theAfghanistan Conflict intoPakistan:[38]
DODD:I think it's highly responsible—or irresponsible for people who are running for the presidency and seek that office to suggest we may be willing unilaterally to invade a nation here who we're trying to get to be more cooperative with us in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
OBAMA: Well, look, I find it amusing that those who helped to authorize and engineer the biggest foreign policy disaster in our generation are now criticizing me for making sure that we are on the right battlefield and not the wrong battlefield in the war against terrorism. (Cheers, applause.)
Dodd continued campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire visiting up to four different cities in one day. Political commentatorBill O'Reilly slammed Dodd after he appeared onThe O'Reilly Factor in August, characterizing him as akool-aid drinker and blind follower of thefar left. O'Reilly chastised Dodd and branded him a traitor for his perceived betrayal of fellow Connecticut SenatorJoe Lieberman during the2006 Senatorial election.[39]On August 20 he attended a debate that aired onABC and was moderated byGeorge Stephanopoulos. He commented on the need for a president that can bring people from both parties together, "it's about getting this job done. We don't elect a king or a queen or a dictator in November, we elect a president. The margins are thin. No one political party is going to write all of this. It takes leadership that knows how to bring people together."[40] As the month wound down for the campaign and as Dodd continued on the trail, the month of September loomed in the horizon as did an upcoming debate in Washington on the primary focus of the campaign, the Iraq War. Accompanying Dodd on the trail was theInternational Association of Fire Fighters, which handed him their endorsement on August 29.[41]
| Date | Location(s) | Event(s) |
|---|---|---|
| September 1 | Reno, NV Las Vegas, NV | Rallies |
| September 2 | Somersworth, NH New London, NH | House Parties |
| September 3 | Manchester, NH Milford, NH Amherst, NH | Speech, Appearance, Meetings, Party Event |
| September 4 | Waterloo, IA Manchester, IA | Meeting, Fundraiser |
| September 9 | Coral Gables, FL | Debate |
| September 15 | Ames, IA Ankeny, IA | Party Event, Meeting |
| September 16 | Indianola, IA | Speech, Appearance |
| September 17 | Washington D.C | Appearance |
| September 20 | Davenport, IA | Forum |
| September 21 | Iowa City, IA | Appearance |
| September 23 | Westport, CT Stamford, CT | Fundraisers |
| September 26 | Hartford, CT Hanover, NH | Appearance, Debate |
| September 28 | Mason City, IA | Meeting |
| September 29 | Emmetsburg, IA Storm Lake, IA Marcus, IA Mars, IA | Meetings |
| September 30 | Sioux City, IA | Townhall |
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As Dodd began the September campaign in Nevada and New Hampshire the stage was being set in Florida for a debate onHispanic issues. However this would later be overshadowed by events that would occur in Washington on September 11. During the testimony ofGeneralDavid Petraeus, he lashed out against the surge policy stating:[42]
In the eight months since President Bush’s announced the surge, we have spent tens of billions of dollars, over 700 American service men and women have sacrificed their lives, and nearly 4,400 have been wounded—all to provide breathing space for the Iraqi Government to engage in political reconciliation. And what has the Iraqi Government done with this breathing space?
— Chris Dodd
At the same time the website MoveOn.org released an ad that slammed General Petraeus, calling him a traitor. Dodd voted against a Congressional act to denounce the ad on September 21.[43]
Returning to the campaign trail, Dodd made stops in Iowa where he started what would be a later October trend by attacking the frontrunnerHillary Clinton. He attacked her record on health care stating, "It should be far more than just a parable of personal growth and maturation. This was about an issue that was critically important to the country. It was a major effort that failed. There were a lot of reasons that it failed, not the least of which it was mismanaged terribly at the time."[44]In addition to the campaigning in Iowa, attended fundraisers in his home state of Connecticut, visited New Hampshire and returned to Iowa all in the timespan of 10 days. At the end of September as the third quarter came to a close, the campaign revealed that it had raised only $1,467,093, spent $4,025,458, leaving $3,874,874 cash on hand.[45]
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| Date | Location | Event |
|---|---|---|
| October 6 | Des Moines, IA Grinnell, IA Iowa City, IA Williamsburg, IA | Meeting, Appearances, Party Event |
| October 7 | Delta, IA Washington, IA Wapello, IA Burlington, IA | Meetings, Appearance |
| October 8 | Mount Pleasant, IA Ottumwa, IA Fairfield, IA Fort Madison, IA | Meetings, Appearance, Forums |
| October 9 | Des Moines, IA | Speech, Forum, House Party |
| October 12 | Iowa City, IA Cedar Rapids, IA Vinton, IA Waterloo, IA | Appearances, Forums |
| October 13 | Independence, IA Dubuque, IA | Forum, Fundraiser |
| October 19 | Concord, NH Nashua, NH | Appearances, Speech |
| October 20 | Manchester, NH | Meetings, Appearances |
| October 21 | Waverly, IA | Forum |
| October 23 | Mason City, IA Iowa Falls, IA Fort Dodge, IA Des Moines, IA | Appearance, meetings |
| October 24 | Council Bluffs, IA | House Party |
| October 25 | Missouri Valley, IA Denison, IA Carroll, IA | Meetings |
| October 30 | Philadelphia, PA | Debate |
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 30MSNBC debate, he went after the frontrunner Hillary Clinton, slamming her for her support ofGovernor of New YorkEliot Spitzer's plan to givedriver's licenses toillegal immigrants:[46]
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 thedecriminalization 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.[46]
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| Date | Location(s) | Event(s) |
|---|---|---|
| November 2 | Manchester, NH Durham, NH | Speeches, Appearance |
| November 3 | Windham, NH Concord, NH Keene, NH | Party Events, Speech |
| November 5 | Ames, IA | Forum |
| November 6 | Iowa City, IA | Meetings |
| November 7 | Knoxville, IA Burlington, IA Bettendorf, IA | Meetings |
| November 8 | Coralville, IA | Meeting |
| November 9 | Mason City, IA Oelwein, IA | House Party, Party Event |
| November 10 | Des Moines, IA | Party Event, Forum |
| November 11 | Emmetsburg, IA | Appearance |
| November 13 | Dubuque, IA | Meeting |
| November 15 | Las Vegas, NV | Debate |
| November 17 | Waverly, IA Marshalltown, IA Oelwein, IA Decorah, IA | Town Hall, House Parties |
| November 18 | West Des Moines, IA Waterloo, IA | House Parties |
| November 19 | Des Moines, IA | Forum |
| November 26 | Davenport, IA | Meeting |
| November 27 | Ames, IA | Speech, Appearance |
In November he started off with two-day events in New Hampshire and then devoted the rest of the month to Iowa. He talked about the need for the United States to redeploy troops out of Iraq, pay attention to global warming and health care, strengthen American ties with their allies including Pakistan and to not start a war withIran further criticizing Clinton's yes vote on a resolution designating theIranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. During a November 15 debate in Las Vegas he spoke out in favor offree trade and attacked his fellow candidates:[47]
Well, first of all, look: I respect the fact that we're calling for timeouts, but as was pointed out earlier by John Edwards, we've had Senator Obama and Senator Clinton both came out in support of the Peruvian free trade agreement -- now switching our positions on these issues here for the convenience of a debate and discussion on where polling data may be.We are in a global economy. It is critically important that we do everything we can to expand those markets so that our products and our services can be sold in foreign nations here. It was outrageous in a sense here -- had a U.S. corporation produced contaminated toys or food, they would have been shut down in 20 minutes
— Chris Dodd
While on the trail in Iowa on November 20 Dodd criticized fellow candidates who threatened to cut off funding to Pakistan in light of PresidentPervez Musharraf's suspension of theconstitution. He stated "I think it's a very dangerous thing to suggest at this point. We could find ourselves cut off. ... We could not get into Afghanistan except through Pakistan. So in addition to the issue of nuclear weapons, and who controls them, and a state hostile to our interest, you have to be careful how much you threaten."[48]
| Date | Location(s) | Event(s) |
|---|---|---|
| December 1 | Des Moines, IA | Forums, Appearance |
| December 2 | Indianola, IA | House Party |
| December 3 | Des Moines, IA | Town Hall |
| December 4 | Des Moines, IA Sioux City, IA | Debate, Town Hall |
| December 5 | Pella, IA Oskaloosa, IA | Town Halls |
| December 7 | Iowa City, IA | Town Hall |
| December 10 | Mountain View, CA | Speech |
| December 12 | Vinton, IA Mason City, IA | Town Halls |
| December 13 | Johnston, IA Story City, IA | Debate, Fundraiser |
| December 16 | Bellevue, IA Cascade, IA | Town Halls |
| December 26 | Iowa Falls, IA | Appearance |
| December 27 | Des Moines, IA | Appearance |
| December 28 | Council Bluffs, IA Des Moines, IA | Party Events |
| December 29 | Sioux City, IA Carroll, IA Emmetsburg, IA Denison, IA Logan, IA Hartford, CT | Party Events, Rally, Appearances |
| December 30 | Le Mars, IA Mason City, IA | Party Events |
| December 31 | Dubuque, IA Waterloo, IA Waverly, IA Oelwein, IA | Party Events |
Dodd spent most of December in Iowa engaged in Town Halls. He briefly made a trip toMountain View, California to make a speech before returning to the trails in Iowa.[14] He participated in the last Democratic Debate before the primary season on December 13 in Johnson, Iowa. In this debate sponsored by theDes Moines Register, Dodd commented thatEducation 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 theDes Moines Register, which ultimately went to Hillary Clinton.[49]
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.
— Chris Dodd
Following the assassination of former Pakistani Prime MinisterBenazir Bhutto, Dodd released a statement while campaigning that elaborated on his experiences with the slain leader. He commented that the event was an important time in both Pakistan and the United States that will impact the future of both nation's security. He described the significance of America's responsibility to keep democracy in the nation and the region as a whole. Following the statement Dodd completed the year's campaigning by attendingNew Year's Eve parties in cities in the first caucus state of Iowa.[50]
| Date | Location(s) | Event(s) |
|---|---|---|
| January 3 | Iowa City, IA Cedar Rapids, IA | Party Event, Appearance |
Dodd participated in theIowa 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.[51][52]
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.
— Chris Dodd
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 andBarbra Streisand each added $1,000 andSteve Martin andHoward Stringer each gave $2,300.Jeffrey Bewkes,Lorne Michaels,Paul Simon and his wife each donated the most at $4,600 followed closely behind byRonald Meyer who donated $4,400.Elisabeth Shue donated $1,500 andChristy Carlson Romano added $300.[53] On October 26, theNew London'sThe Day reported that through September Dodd's campaign received $21,600 from employees of Connecticut'sFoxwoods Casino and an additional $2,300 from theMashantucket Pequot'spolitical action committee.[54] According to the financial records, 60% of Dodd's donations came from individual contributors. 4% of donations came fromPACs, which overwhelming were related to groups with business agendas.[55] 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:[56]
| State | Funds Raised |
|---|---|
| New York | $2,062,410 |
| Connecticut | $2,046,017 |
| California | $563,395 |
| Iowa | $10,150 |
| New Hampshire | $26,300 |
In polling, Dodd was unable to break through to the top tier. In Nationwide polls almost always polled at or around 1%. A November 7, 2007, Gallup poll placed him in last place, behind bothJoe Biden andDennis Kucinich, as well as the three front runners.[57] At the state level, Dodd has also not done so well. In a November 18, 2007, Iowa poll conducted byABC news, he registered with 1% the same number from a similar poll done by ABC news on July 31, 2007.[58] In New Hampshire, a poll conducted byCNN placed Dodd at 1% constant from a September poll but up from polls in June and July.[59] 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 theYork 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.[60]
A November 2007 poll of Connecticut voters conducted by theQuinnipiac University Polling Institute determined that Dodd was losing in the state toHillary 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."[61]
January 15–16, 2007 Rasmussen Reports[62]
| Chris Dodd | Rudy Giuliani |
|---|---|
 |  |
| 39% | 44% |
January 15–16, 2007 Rasmussen Reports
| Chris Dodd | John McCain |
|---|---|
|  |
| 33% | 52% |
Dodd's endorsers include:
Dodd had received endorsements from members of theKennedy family includingRhode IslandRepresentativePatrick J. Kennedy and his brotherEdward M. Kennedy Jr.Eunice Kennedy Shriver had also campaigned for him. On November 1, the campaign announced he had been endorsed byBobby Shriver, co-founder ofDebt AIDS Trade in Africa.[70] Dodd had asked SenatorTed Kennedy repeatedly for an endorsement.[71] On November 20, 2007,Timothy Shriver, the Chairman ofSpecial Olympics announced his endorsement for Dodd.[65]
On August 28, Dodd received the endorsement of theInternational Association of Fire Fighters. On October 24, in a speech before anInternational Association of Fire Fighters conference, he criticized the Bush Administration's failure to fully fundfirst responders battlingthe massive wildfires in Southern California.[72]
Dodd's campaign advisors included:[67]