Poll: Dodd Way Behind, Thanks To AIG Scandal
The new Quinnipiac poll from Connecticut has some truly ghastly numbers for Chris Dodd in the wake of the AIG bonus scandal, with him trailing former Republican Congressman Rob Simmons by a whopping 50%-34% margin, running behind GOP state Sen. Sam Caliguiri by 41%-37%, and trailing possible GOP candidate Tom Foley, a businessman, by 43%-35%.
Only 33% of registered voters approve of Dodd's performance as a Senator, with 58% disapproving. When asked whether they approve of Dodd's performance as Senate Banking Committee chairman, only 21% of registered voters approve, and 69% disapprove. Only 32% agree that he is honest and trustworthy, with 54% saying he is not.
On the bonuses themselves, 39% say they blame Dodd "a lot," and 35% blame him "some." And when asked who deserves the most blame for the bonuses, Dodd is in a statistical tie for first with George W. Bush: Bush 28%, Dodd 27%, Tim Geithner 20%, and 7% Barack Obama.
A Democratic source tells TPM that Dodd will improve as he regains support among Democratic voters, and that people are going to have a lot of negative reactions this close to the AIG scandal. We'll see what future polls have in store.
Late Update: NRSC spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson gave TPM this statement:
"With a number of surveys showing record low approval ratings for Senator Chris Dodd, he is obviously facing an uphill battle in his bid for reelection. Whether it's his failed leadership as the Senate Banking Committee Chairman during an economic crisis, his sweetheart mortgage deal from Countrywide, his 10-acre 'cottage' in Ireland, or his decision to move his family to Iowa during the presidential campaign, Dodd certainly owes his constituents some explanations. Voters in Connecticut are looking for a change, and we're confident that this will be a competitive race next year."
Josh
Matt
Eric
Calling Ned Lamont...
April 2, 2009 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dude...if Lamont runs Dodd out, who's gonna run Joe out next time?
April 2, 2009 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have to give you credit for spending your entire life trolling this board. Other people would realize how pathetic it is and move on, but you've really stuck with it. Good job.
April 2, 2009 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just to clarify a troll "...is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum or chat room, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion."
I am on-topic, relevant (to the topic anyway) and am trying to elicit an itellectual response (y'all are way to emotional on your own).
April 2, 2009 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone with a pulse should be able to do that just fine.
April 2, 2009 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Joe's doing a perfectly good job of that by himself.
April 2, 2009 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
First things first. How's that?
April 2, 2009 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Check
April 2, 2009 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I second that. Come on, Nutmeggers. I seriously doubt CT Republicans will vote for this guy.
April 2, 2009 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yup, it's Ned Lamont time.
April 2, 2009 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lamont?? You've gotta be kidding me! That wimp is about the most worthless candidate ever. If the Connecticut Dems can't find anyone stronger than him, they might as well forget it.
And Dodd has no one to blame but himself.
April 2, 2009 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Obama Administration has royally screwed Senator Dodd.
April 2, 2009 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Huh? Why would you say that? Dodd was circling the drain in the fall, months before the obama administration came into power. Dodd is chair of the banking committee and has been at the center of the deregulation that was at the heart of this financial crisis. Dodd made his bed and he should probably retire at this point. He is looking at getting slaughtered in 2010.
April 2, 2009 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whatever problems Senator Dodd faced last fall, they pale in comparison to the numbers that he now faces in the wake of the AIG bonus scandal, and on that issue the Obama administration royally screwed him.
Remember, Senator Dodd was trying to fix the bonus problem, and he conceded to the exception for existing contracts only because the Obama Administration insisted it was necessary. Not only did the administration badly mishandle the bonus issue - they ought to have prepared the public for the news long before the payments came due - they then pointed the finger at Dodd when the backlash broke.
Senator Dodd surely has some self-inflicted wounds, but the mortal gash in his back comes from indulging the Administration's "centrist" tendencies.
April 2, 2009 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, dodd's problems are much, much deeper than the bs aig bonus scandal. He was promoting the bonus thing in the stimulus because of his political problems, not because he was some sort of populist. Dodd's problems started with the countrywide loan bs and then exploded when the financial markets collapsed in the fall. The aig bonus thing is nothing and in fact may be improving his numbers.
April 2, 2009 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't recall any polls in the wake of the Countrywide controversy that suggested Senator Dodd was facing anything like the deficit that these polls show.
What I see happening here is that conservatives desparately want the financial crisis to be blamed on Democrats by pointing to the roles of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. That's complete nonsense, but it's a meme that the media will rush to adopt if Dodd is forced out of office.
If Senator Dodd did something inappropriate when accepting the mortgages from Countrywide, then fine, he ought to be held accountable for that. But that's not what is happening here. What is happening is that conservative talking points are combining with him being hung out to dry by the Administration, creating a toxic mix for one of the leading progressives in the Senate.
April 2, 2009 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's one from 2/10/2009, before the scandal broke and he was at 41%. In addition:
Doug Schwartz is Quinnipiac University's Polling Director. He says the poll indicates Dodd is vulnerable if he runs for re-election in 2010, because of controversy surrounding the Senator. 56 percent of voters say they're less likely to vote for Dodd because of reports that he got special treatment when he refinanced two homes with Countrywide.
http://www.cpbn.org/article/quinnipiac-poll-shows-dodd-lieberman-trouble-rells-numbers-remain-high
I remember seeing a poll in december with about the same numbers as well. He's in trouble based on his own conduct and actions.
April 2, 2009 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Compare the numbers in those polls. He went from a 41-48 approval rating split to a 33-58 split. That's an 8 point drop in his positives and a 10 point jump in his negatives. All over an issue that should have instead helped him if he'd stuck to his original stance instead of listening to the Administration. I call that a royal screwing.
April 2, 2009 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, please. He was at 41%???? As an incumbent? In a blue state? Who was just a presidential candidate? I would call that in major trouble, big time.
He wasn't screwed by the administration. He screwed himself. Also, in any event, I never thought that the bonus issue should have been in the stimulus bill. It didn't belong there and should have been stand alone legislation. The issues concerning the bonuses could have been aired and the republicans either would have been on board with a limitation or would have looked like sh*t.
April 2, 2009 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
41-48 is bad. 33-58 is disastrous.
The bottom line is that Dodd correctly identified a problem that would cause a public blacklash, and he acted to fix it. That should have helped his struggling approval numbers. Instead, because he listened to the Administration and because the Administration misleadingly pointed the finger at him, his ratings tanked. By my definition, that's being screwed.
April 2, 2009 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
By the way, I don't think dodd identified the problem. I recall other senators speaking out about the issue first and then dodd getting on the band wagon and drafting the amendment, probably because he was already in deep sh*t in connecticut. I actually remember other senators raising the issue, and in fact some republicans, because I thought it was silly to make this an amendment to the stimulus bill and that it should be stand alone legislation. He was throwing his financial backers under the bus to get reelected and it blew up in his face. I really don't have alot of sympathy for the guy. Time for some new blood.
April 2, 2009 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
That strikes me as splitting hairs. Regardless of who was first discussing the problem, Dodd acted to fix it, and the Obama Administration turned that positive into a vicious negative for him.
I think the disconnect here is that you feel that because Dodd's problems began before the bonus controversy that means the Administration didn't screw him. That's not how I see it. I'm not claiming that the Administration lead him to this cliff, but they sure seem to have stepped on his fingers be kicked him in the head while he was trying to climb I up.
April 2, 2009 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ugh. That should read: "I'm not claiming that the Administration led him to this cliff, but they sure seem to have stepped on his fingers and kicked him in the head when he was trying to climb back up."
April 2, 2009 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Dodd's problem is more self-immolation than Obama's fault.
April 2, 2009 9:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
If I were a diehard conservative, I'd probably take that position too.
April 2, 2009 10:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exsqueeze me?
As a resident of CT I can tell you that Dodd has royally screwed himself.
April 2, 2009 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
As a resident of Connecticut, I hope you'll consider Senator Dodd's whole record when deciding how to vote. As far as I am aware he's one of the more consistently progressive voices in the Senate. I don't think he is the type of legislator that Democrat's should be offering up as a scapegoat.
April 2, 2009 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
What have you done for me lately? Aside from sidling up to John Paulson's money trough?
Dodd just seems bought and paid for by the industry he regulates. Time for a change.
April 2, 2009 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Lately, he limited bonuses for executives at TARP recipients. Perversely, that has now been spun into a negative for him because he bowed to Administration pressure on exisiting contracts, but we wouldn't even have a limit in place moving forward if it weren't for his amendment.
April 2, 2009 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fair enough on the AIG bonus thing, but he had lost my vote before that.
April 2, 2009 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
"The Obama Administration has royally screwed Senator Dodd.
"
I'll take one from the republicans. Personal Responsibility.
April 2, 2009 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm all for people taking responsibility for things that are their fault, but the AIG bonus scandal was not Dodd's fault; he tried to fix it before it became a scandal.
April 2, 2009 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
April 2, 2009 10:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good thinking.
April 2, 2009 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
The time has come to move on. He can spend time with his kids. He can go sit on some corporate boards. He can go give speeches. There are plenty of other opportunities. But, we need this seat. And, we'll never retain it with a 33% approval rating.
It's not just AIG. . . .
April 2, 2009 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rather than lose to a Repug, could he simply resign and let his Governor appoint his replacement?
Wait...
She's the Incumbant Repug Gov (M. Jodi Rell)....
Nevermind....
April 2, 2009 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
the worm has turned.
one by one these corrupt shills will be thrown out.
the people are fed up with their total lack of integrity.
they smell dishonest.
the worse is still to come.
April 2, 2009 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is all such ridiculous hyperventilating. Thinking AIG will still be on anybody's mind 18 months from now is equivalent to McCain thinking he would win because Russia invaded Georgia. The minute these stories move off the front page, they're virtually forgotten.
Voting is a binary choice. When the very blue state of connecticut is faced with choice between Dodd and a republican, there's no way Dodd loses.
Years ago, every poll had Barbara Boxer losing or almost losing to some republican.
April 2, 2009 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've always said that "there are 10 kinds of people in this world; those that understand binary and those that don't."
April 2, 2009 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've always said there are two kinds of people in the world: those who understand that the correct phrase is "those who" not "those that".
HA!
April 2, 2009 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmm...Dodd is old...I think this would be a good time for him to gracefully wander out to pasture..
April 2, 2009 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dodd either had or will soon have a fundraiser hosted by Hedge Fund guy John Paulson.
That ought to help the poll numbers.
April 2, 2009 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
That would depend on your definition of the word "help" - while it'll help someone, I doubt it will be Dodd...
April 2, 2009 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
You've caught on to my sarcasm!
April 2, 2009 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thr irony in Dodd's case, and a few others I'm sure, is that Dodd got in bed with the moneychangers so he could collect big bucks for his campaign with the idea of staying in the Senate indefinitely. This is where irony steps in.
If these people don't pay a penalty for their serving the moneychangers first and the public second then nothing will change.
Now, if only we can get Schumer next.
April 2, 2009 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent points. Excellent. Only thing is that the public doesn't even come in second place for these people. The public is way down the list.
April 2, 2009 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Second the "get Schumer next" remark!
April 2, 2009 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmm.... Hey Dodd ...thanks for always doing the right thing!!! Thanks for positioning yourself on such solid ground. We thank you! :sarcasm:
April 2, 2009 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good. He pulled a Reid and backed down to those without power or authority. Whether it be Republican minority or "stay the course" Geithner of Wall Street, if you show no fortitude, you should be shat out at the nearest opportunity.
April 2, 2009 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
"If you show no fortitude, you should be shat out at the nearest opportunity."
Dude, that's a bumper sticker I'd pay for!
April 2, 2009 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the thing. I like Dodd. I think he's been good on so many issues (and not so good on some). I think that Simmons could take him. In this light, and wanting to look to the future, I think Chris Murphy might be a GREAT choice to ascend to the Senate.
I mean no disresepct to Dodd on this, but we need to assure the D votes to move the President's agenda. Plus, Congressman Murphy is such a good guy. Honest, intelligent, and so not full of hubris.
If there is any realistic chance Dodd can roll on and win, I would support him. If we get closer to 11/2010 and he is still in a tail spin......Ask not what your party can do for you, ask what you can do for your party to insure another D goes to the Senate.
April 2, 2009 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Can I hear an "AMEN"????
Signed, another worried CT Dem
April 2, 2009 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Third! Although Murphy may be a little green, I wholeheartedly support a fresh Democratic alternative to Dodd in 2010.
April 2, 2009 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
One difference between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party is that more of us on the left are willing to call out and even throw out a lawmaker who is corrupt and working for themselves, rather than for us. In that metric, Dodd is clearly not the greatest offender though he certainly has dirty hands. I hope Dodd survives, I think he'll be a better person for it if he does survive. I'd like to tackle the Wal Mart senator, (Blanch Lincoln), Evan Bayh and the above mentioned Chuck Schumer. All of them are immeasurably worse than Dodd.
Oh yeah and SFCWallace is a troll. Just because he's not behaving in a particularly troll-like fashion today doesn't mean he's changed his ways.
April 2, 2009 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Just because he's not behaving in a particularly troll-like fashion today doesn't mean he's changed his ways."
Uh...if you've been paying attention at all, this is the way I behave every day. You just may disagree with me more vehemently on other occassions and feel that there's no way I could seriously believe what I'm writing.
April 2, 2009 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have to stick up for SFC here. I wouldn't classify him as a troll at all. He may not agree with us, but he at least tries to bring some legitimate counterpoints to the discussion around here.
April 2, 2009 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Co-sign. It's fun sparring with him. Much better than an echo chamber.
April 2, 2009 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
You just say that cuz we're homies...lol
April 2, 2009 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well my issue is how often he personally attacks people with whom he dissagrees. There are a lot of people that regularly use this board, (as well as all other boards), who do that and in my opinion, they are trolls as well. There have been many occasions when Wallace et al have had fundamental dissagreement and have used that as an opportunity to call people names or display other intolerant acts. There is plenty of room to dissagree without getting personal. So many people just don't get that.
Maybe I'd feel better disposed toward Mr, (I'm assuming he's male), Wallace had he not called me names worthy of a high school track field when we have dissagreed.
April 2, 2009 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am at a loss trying to recall any "attack" on you. I did call Freerider an "asshat" once and asked if TenahusseinX was the author of an article in Pravda that claimed Dick Cheney and John McCain orchastred the invasion of Georgia...but that's about it...
April 2, 2009 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, we fight all the time and you call me . . . ummm . . . one of those terrorist, coddling liberals, or words to that effect. False accusation, but I don't take any offense.
April 2, 2009 12:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
...no I said you supported "extra rights" for terrorists...one's not included in the Geneva Conventions...Oh and you are a liberal...no offense.
April 2, 2009 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a "liberal." Oh no, I take offense. Am not. I'm a progressive, like teddy roosevelt and he was a republican, so I guess that makes me a moderate republican.
By the way, I only want treaty and international law rights for people apprehended by our government that are not american citizens. American citizens get constitutional rights. The radical right has forgotten about these types of issues regarding the rule of law. I kind of like adhering to the rule of law. Makes things simpler.
April 2, 2009 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
SFC,
how does one know who is a terrorist and who isn't a terrorist?
April 2, 2009 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
That simple question hits the nail on the head with a sledgehammer. That is the problem and that's why you have to follow the law regardless of how offensive or culpable or guilty the alleged "terrorist" is. We did it for over 200 years and it worked fine and we nailed the bastards. Why all of a sudden couldn't we follow the law? It really makes no sense. We have been dealing with "terrorists" since the founding of our country and we never did this before.
April 2, 2009 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
"We have been dealing with "terrorists" since the founding of our country and we never did this before." Your right, we used to treat anyone caught on the battle field fighting our troops not in uniform as spies or sabotuers and summarily execute them.
April 2, 2009 1:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Really? So, we executed the torries that were fighting the continental army in 1776 as spies or saboteurs because they weren't in uniform. Or, the English executed our militiamen, because they weren't in a uniform.
Or, how about during the civil war. You should know this one. Many southern soldiers didn't have a uniform per se. They were executed?
I don't recall alot of summary executions during these wars from my reading of history. It's amazing how history has changed for you guys over the last 8 years.
April 2, 2009 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whatch the home videos...the guys with the hoods on chopping the head off are the terrorists, the guy in the orange jumpsuit with his hands tied behind his back getting his head chopped off is not the terrorist...also the kids running out of the school, not terrorists, the guys shooting them from the window, terrorists...
April 2, 2009 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, we're not talking about 24. That's a fantasy. We're talking about reality.
I got one for you. What about all the serial killers that have been prosecuted over the years for horrendous murders, like dalmer, who even ate his victims. I guess we shouldn't have prosecuted and convicted them, right? What do you suggest that we should have done with them? We've had more serial killers over the years than the murderers that chopped people's heads off in the middle east.
April 2, 2009 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
You've just proven my point, you want unlawdful combatants in an overseas theater of war granted "Constitutional Rights" well above and beyound any protections granted by the Geneva Conventions...
April 2, 2009 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wasn't meaning to imply constitutional rights. I was meaning to point out compliance with the law, international law. I have said this several times now. Obviously, the constitution does not apply to people detained overseas, unless they are an american citizen. What's the problem with complying with international law and us treaty obligations? I just don't see it.
April 2, 2009 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, the Geneva Conventions allow torture of prisoners!! Who knew? Thanks for that info, SFC.
April 3, 2009 2:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ease up on SFC. He's fine. He just disagrees with you.
I thought we were done calling people trolls. It's just so 2008.
April 2, 2009 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
That should have read "Thank you DCObserver"
April 2, 2009 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dodd is typical of the DC ruling class. He's done some good things, and more bad things. All in all, he's head and shoulders above the gooper wannabes.
April 2, 2009 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree, I don't have anything personal against him compared to most or all of his colleagues- he's better than most and as good as all but a handful. I just don't like the odds of him retaining the seat if he runs. And that's an unaffordable risk.
April 2, 2009 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama Administration mendaciously screws Dodd:
http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=12278
Talking Points Memo forgets to report. Sad.
April 2, 2009 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
You may be right that the anger toward Dodd over the AIG bonuses is misdirected. However, you can't be surprised that Dodd is suffering in the polls when he is chairman of the Banking Cmte, and fairly or unfairly, appears to be so closely linked to those he regulates. When Dodd talks about being "outraged", it just doesn't resonate here in CT.
Dodd's problems didn't begin, and they won't end with the AIG bonues scandal.
April 2, 2009 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even if Dodd was screwed over by the administration, there is not question that the people are really pissed about the bailouts and bonuses. These are things that the Democrats have supported from day one. Just as our party supported repeal of Glass-steagle and exempting CDSs from any regulation. Our party did that because Wall Street is a major campaign donor. It is important that we suffer some setbacks for making deals with the devil.
Hopefully we will learn. If the price we pay for learning is hanging Dodd out to dry then so be it (BTW, we was my man in the primaries until he dropped out).
April 2, 2009 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink