Dodd's presidential run begins slowly
The least talked about Democratic contender for president in 2008 also happens to be the only one that has announced his candidacy. Nonetheless, Senate Democrat Christopher Dodd from Connecticut raised a grand total of $1 million in just one week alone, :
Sen. Christopher J. Dodd's political action committee raised about $1million this week in his first major fundraiser since he said he wasconsidering a run for the presidency.
The event at Washington's Phoenix Park Hotel was the first bid forpresidential cash since the Connecticut Democrat said May 22 he wasconsidering a run for the White House. Tickets were $1,000 each, butcontributors could give up to $5,000.
Dodd has done little publicly since he said he was looking into a run,and plans to continue operating quietly for most of the summer. Hiscamp believes its time is better spent showcasing his Senate work andbuilding a campaign treasury. The senator does plan to speak Tuesdaynext week to the National Partnership for Woman & Families inWashington, but other than that, no major events outside the Senate areplanned.
Dodd's greatest need is to come up with a campaign kitty that will beconsidered viable. In the insular world of early presidential politics,activists look to the money figures as evidence of credibility andsupport.
Dodd had about $2 million on hand last month, a number which willclearly grow because of the fundraiser. But he still lags well behindothers, notably New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has anestimated $20 million on hand, and 2004 Democratic nominee John F.Kerry, who has about $17 million.
Most people, even some bloggers, do not know who this guy is. Dodd cannot remain under the curtain for much longer though. He needs to appear more frequently on news shows. He needs to offer his own plan on Iraq. He needs to appeal to the blogosphere. It will be hard for him to keep up with some of the other Democrats, such as Mark Warner, John Edwards and Hillary Clinton, unless he gets it into gear fast.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Other blogs writing about this: , , .
Comments