Pat Dollard

Tweet

Politico:

Embattled Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) is in severe political danger, trailing former GOP congressman Rob Simmons by 16 points, 50 to 34 percent, according to a new Quinnipiac poll. Among independent voters, Simmons leads Dodd by 31 points — 56 to 25 percent.

Dodd also trails little-known state senator Sam Caligiuri by four points, 41 to 37 percent.

Dodd’s approval ratings are in the tank, with 58 percent of Connecticut voters disapproving of his job performance and only 33 percent viewing him favorably. He doesn’t even have support within his own party – only 51 percent of Democrats approve of him.

“A 33 percent job approval is unheard of for a 30-year incumbent, especially a Democrat in a blue state. Sen. Christopher Dodd’s numbers among Democrats are especially devastating,” said Quinnipiac pollster Douglas Schwartz.

Voters are taking their anger out on Dodd for his involvement in legislation that allowed AIG executives to receive millions in bonuses. A whopping 74 percent of voters said they blamed Dodd for the bonuses. Meanwhile, 54 percent said they don’t believe Dodd is honest and trustworthy.

Washington Wire:

“A 33 percent job approval is unheard of for a 30-year incumbent, especially a Democrat in a blue state,”

Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd’s 2010 re-election bid is shaping up to be a competitive race, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll that has the senator losing to all three of his potential Republican opponents.

Further, Dodd has notably poor approval ratings for an entrenched incumbent at 33%, while 58% disapprove. “A 33 percent job approval is unheard of for a 30-year incumbent, especially a Democrat in a blue state,” said polling director Douglas Schwartz.

The Connecticut lawmaker is chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and has been the target of criticism in the financial crisis over a favorable loan he received from CountryWide, as well as his role in including language protecting millions of dollars of bonuses to American International Group, Inc. executives in the $787 economic stimulus package.

In a match-up against former Republican Rep. Rob Simmons, Dodd trails by 16 points, 50%-34%. Against state Sen. Sam Caligiuri, he trails 41%-37%, and by 43% to 35% against former ambassador Tom Foley. Both Simmons and Caligiuri have declared the candidacies for the Republican primary.

Last week, the non-partisan Cook Political Report changed the status of Dodd’s race from “likely Democrat” to “toss-up.”