U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd said Wednesday that he is "not in that league'' in the campaign fundraising battle against Republican Linda McMahon.
McMahon is expected to spend as much as $30 million of her own money as one of five Republicans in the U.S. Senate race. Political insiders have estimated that Dodd will likely spend $20 million to $25 million, but he said that he does not have a specific number that he is expecting to spend.
"I haven't spent that much in five races,'' Dodd said in a telephone conference call with radio and newspaper reporters from Washington, D.C. "I don't think there's enough money to buy a Senate seat - even at the rate she's talking about.''
Dodd's campaign announced that he had raised $900,000 in the latest quarter, which was below the $970,000 raised by the Republican frontrunner, former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons. It was also below the blistering spending pace by McMahon, who spent $2 million in the first two weeks since her announcement on September 16. McMahon loaned $3 million to her campaign and paid for nearly $500,000 in various expenses on behalf of the campaign.
Ed Patru, a spokesman for McMahon, dismissed the idea that McMahon is attempting to buy the election.
"Connecticut voters are far too sophisticated and too intelligent to be 'bought,' '' Patru said. "This election will be decided on the following issues - which candidate can make the most compelling case to turn this economy around and which candidate can make the most compelling case that they deserve the trust of Connecticut voters. We reject the notion that because Linda McMahon is not accepting special interest funds and is investing her own personal resources that that is somehow tantamount to buying an election.''
"It is almost unheard of for any challenger to outraise a 30-year-incumbent who also happens to be the chairman of the powerful Banking Committee, but Rob Simmons has done that not by cutting a massive check to himself, but by gaining the support of literally thousands of supporters who believe in him and know he has the best chance to send Sen. Dodd into retirement and restore common sense and decency to Washington, D.C.,'' said Jim Barnett, the Simmons campaign manager. "Rob's incredible fundraising success proves definitively that he will have the resources to run a winning general election campaign.''
Dodd's campaign also announced the details of a high-profile fundraiser with President Barack Obama that is scheduled for October 23.
The dinner at the Stamford Hilton Hotel, off Interstate 95, begins at 5 p.m. The cost is $1,000 per person.
During the conference call with reporters, Dodd said he was beginning the work of melding the various ideas on healthcare reform that would be placed into a bill that would be sent to the Senate floor.
Regarding the 2010 campaign, he said that he would let the Republicans fight it out in an expected primary in August.
"I'll let them go it,'' Dodd said. "In the meantime, I've got a job to do here. That's the best politics in the world.''
I hope that Obama's trip to Connecticut for Dodd will be as successful as his trip to Copenhagen for the Olympics.
Dodd needs to retire back to Ireland. We have had enough of his dirty politics. Time to back Rob Simmons, a true American and Patriot.
God Bless Rob
I would hope that the Courant publishes a list of all those people who are willing to pay $1,000 a plate to support the poor, deprived, out-of-his-league Dodd.
Then, the Courant should follow the money and make sure that none of the dinner proceeds end up paying for more improvements to the Dodd's Ireland ("Cottage") Mansion.
Poor Chrissy can only afford to spend 25 million on his reelection bid. Bet you anything he'll spend 50 million to stay in his gravy job. Sick of listening to this clown and it's time for him to be replaced.
Only $1,000 a plate? How "democratic."
Did anyone ask the Senator about the fundraiser that's scheduled earlier in the day before the $1,000/plate dinner?
How much does Dodd have in his campaign war chest from the good folks in the financial sector over which he reigns?