Sen. Christopher Dodd says it was time to step down

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Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, who left his imprint on a host of social legislation, announced this morning that he is retiring and will not seek a sixth term representing the state of Connecticut.

In a nationally broadcast news conference from his home in East Haddam, Conn., Dodd said the time had come for him to step down.

‘Every important journey in life begins and ends at home,’ Dodd said, ‘Today is no exception.

What is different about today however, is not to announce the beginning of yet another campaign for the United States Senate but rather to announce that after 35 years of representing the people of Connecticut in the United States Congress, I will not be a candidate for reelection this November.’

Dodd noted that his popularity in Connecticut had fallen, but he dismissed analyses that he was stepping down because some felt he could not win.

News of his retirement roiled the political world, coming within 24 hours of announcements from two other Democrats, Sen. Byron L. Dorgan of North Dakota and Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Jr., considered a hot political property, that they were stepping down.

There are 58 Democrats in the Senate, and with two independents who usually caucus with them, the party has been able to build a majority that can break any GOP filibuster. It is doubtful they will have that much clout after November’s midterm election

Dodd’s retirement paves the way for longtime Connecticut Atty. Gen. Richard Blumenthal to run for the seat as a Democrat. In recent polls, he has shown himself to be a stronger candidate than Dodd against any GOP challenger.

Blumenthal, 63, told financial news channel CNBC that he will officially announce later today. A news conference is slated for 2:30 p.m. EST at state Democratic party headquarters in Hartford.

Blumenthal has been Connecticut’s top law enforcement official since 1990, serving five terms, and previously served in the state’s Legislature.

An Quinnipiac University survey in early November showed Dodd trailing former Republican Rep. Rob Simmons by 11 percentage points in a hypothetical contest for the Senate race.

Also seeking the GOP nod is World Wrestling Entertainment co-founder Linda McMahon, who told morning television shows that Dodd’s retirement will not have any impact on her plans to run.

Dodd has been a longtime fixture in Connecticut politics and a liberal voice similar to his friend, the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. After Kennedy died last year, Dodd stepped in and helped to shepherd the healthcare reform package through the Senate.

But Dodd’s popularity waned in 2008 when it was reported that he had received discounts on home loans from Countrywide Financial Corp., now part of Bank of America Corp., while he was head of the Senate Banking Committee.

Dodd also moved his family to Iowa in the hopes of getting an edge in the 2008 presidential sweepstakes, a moved that failed to bring the desired benefits and alienated voters at home.

He is the son of a former senator, Thomas Dodd, also of Connecticut.

With Dodd’s and Dorgan’s announcements, Democrats now find themselves in the uncomfortable role of defending four open seats The others are in Delaware and Illinois, where Sens. Ted Kaufman and Roland Burris, respectively, were appointed and will not seek election.

In New York, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is running for the seat to which she was appointed last year, but her race is considered controversial there and her chances are unclear.

By most counts, the Republicans have a shot in more than a dozen states including Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada, North Dakota and Pennsylvania, where newly minted Democrat Arlen Specter will have problems from both his old and new affiliations.

Dorgan, the chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and a member of the Senate Democratic leadership, said Tuesday that he reached his decision after discussing his future with family over the holidays.

‘Although I still have a passion for public service and enjoy my work in the Senate, I have other interests and I have other things I would like to pursue outside of public life,’ said Dorgan, 67.

Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, praised both men in a prepared statement.

‘I have tremendous respect for Senators Dodd and Dorgan. They have both served in the Senate with distinction and have extraordinary legislative achievements. They will be dearly missed, and they deserve the country’s gratitude for decades of public service dedicated to making this country stronger.

‘Having spoken to both of them, their decisions to retire were heartfelt and personal, and I know that they both feel strongly that their seats remain blue in November.’

-- Michael Muskal

Twitter.com/LATimesmuskal