Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) is spending his
weekend back in Connecticut doing damage control after allegations this past
week that his work as Senate Banking Committee chairman opened the door for AIG
to hand out its controversial bonuses.
Dodd, whose poll numbers have been flagging and have drawn in a top-tier
Republican opponent for his 2010 re-election race, is working on rebuilding his
brand through a series of interviews and appearances in the Nutmeg State.
{mosads}Dodd appeared with Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) Friday morning to tout funding
for EMTs in Enfield, Conn., and taped an extensive interview with Connecticut
Public Television (CPTV), which will air on stations in the state throughout
the weekend.
Dodd seemed to acknowledge he had to work to rebuild his reputation among
constituents in the CPTV interview.
“Doing my job is the only way I know how to restore that confidence,”
he said of the recent criticism of his work.
Dodd also made a national media blitz in the second half of this week,
appearing on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News after he came under fire for having
allegedly watered down a provision in the stimulus bill that opened the door
for bonuses like those handed out at AIG.
Dodd was back in Connecticut for business as usual, spokesman Bryan DeAngelis said
in an e-mail.
“The Senator was back in Connecticut this weekend, as he does most weeks, to
talk to the people of Connecticut about his work in Washington to get our
economy back on track and assist those in the state who have suffered in this
economy,” DeAngelis said. “This week his events focused on supporting
Connecticut’s first responders – fire fighters and police, as well as small
businesses, and he wanted to make himself available to answer any questions
about his efforts to curb excessive bonuses and golden parachutes.”
Dodd has maintained that the Treasury Department approached him during the
conference of the stimulus package, asking for the key modification on bonuses.
The Connecticut senator argued that he agreed to the Treasury’s requests to
preserve other components in the stimulus governing executive compensation.
Still, Dodd said Friday he will continue to focus on his job, and won’t engage
his Republican opponent, former Rep. Rob Simmons, 20 months before the 2010
midterm elections.
“I’m not going to spend the next 20 months in a constant campaign – I think
people are sick of it,” he said. “The big issue of the day is not whether or
not I get re-elected. The big issue of the day is whether or not our country is
going to get back on its feet again or not.”
Simmons is taking a different tack: he slammed Dodd on Friday for receiving
“sweetheart” home mortgage loans, and said he will raise “a minimum of $5
million” for the race.