Dodd sees risk in long contest for Democrats

The Day ^ | 5/3/2008 | Ted Mann

[mdittmar]

'Bitter' and 'nasty' tone may hurt party's chances to win presidential election later

Hartford - Sen. Chris Dodd warned Friday that the Democratic primary contest is growing“bitter and nasty,” and said the party's presidential hopes are at risk if it lasts through the convention.

”The good news is we're increasing the ranks and rolls of Democrats in states as a result of these contests going on,” Dodd said of the primary battle between Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, who he has endorsed, and Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York.“But I'm worried if this thing goes on into the summer or, Lord forbid, ends up being a contest in late August in Denver, that it's going to be harder and harder with eight weeks to go to win the presidential contest.”

Connecticut's senior senator was in Hartford to stump for his federal legislation regulating credit card billing practices, but the conversation quickly shifted to the presidential race in which he was once a candidate.

Dodd dropped out after a lackluster showing in the Iowa caucuses, and later threw his support to Obama.

Dodd's comments align him with other figures in the Democratic Party, including its chairman, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who have warned that the party must align with one of the remaining candidates soon, in order to mount an effective challenge to Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican nominee.

”The fact that this is just not appearing to come to any closure is a matter of concern,” Dodd said. The longer the battle between Obama and Clinton continues, he said, the deeper divisions it is sowing in the party's establishment and supporters.

”It's not that the candidates won't get together,” Dodd said.“The winner and the loser usually patch it up. It's their staffs and their supporters and others who have a harder time crossing back over again after a race like this. So it worries me.”

Asked if he would accept a cabinet position in a new Democratic administration, Dodd would not rule it out, but set the bar high. As chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, and one seat removed from the chairmanship of the Foreign Relations Committee, Dodd is in a position to decline any but the choicest offers, he said.

”It would have to be a pretty significant offer to have to give up critical roles in setting policy in major areas,” he said, but added,“You'd be a fool or less than honest to say you wouldn't consider it.”

Whether that administration will belong to Clinton or Obama - or to McCain - could still depend on how the rest of the Democratic nominating contest progresses, he said.

”I think this is not so debilitating yet, but it's getting to the point where it could be,” he said.“And if it goes on ... look, first of all the cable networks would love this to be an August fiasco. What better way to get ratings in late August than to have Democrats ripping each other apart in a national convention? You talk about television, it doesn't get any better than that. You know, worldwide wrestling would take a second seat to it.”

The senator was looking forward to Tuesday, which will bring primaries in North Carolina, where Obama holds a narrow lead, and Indiana, where Clinton appears ahead. For it to end there, Dodd's candidate must deliver a knockout blow.

”Next Tuesday, if you get Senator Clinton winning both North Carolina and Indiana,” the senator said,“this thing's going to go on.”

[Convert from ECUSA]

Memo to “senator” Dodd: Bubbe, I hope it drags on all the way to Denver with one ugly, nasty, bitter fight on the convention floor, complete with multiple ballots, smoke-filled backroom decision making, followed by walkouts, protests, the whole nine yards. The longer and nastier the better. Its the only thing that makes this sorry election cycle and choices worth a p!ss in a pot.