Why Dodd- here's a great answer

Dark-horse Dodd best candidate for the job

After the first televised Democratic debate before Thanksgiving, I asked myself why I was considering only the three frontrunners, when one dark-horse candidate, Sen. Chris Dodd, demonstrated deeper experience and presented more persuasive positions. By disregarding the best candidate, I was shirking my responsibility to keep the Iowa caucuses unique by giving dark-horse candidates a chance to be considered on their merits. For all my grousing about the unholy union of power and money in politics, I was missing a high leverage opportunity to make a real difference by participating in one of the last strongholds of grass roots, person-to-person presidential politics. I made a decision. On a snowy night before Thanksgiving, I went to the Salvation Army and met Dodd, who was having fun serving meals with a few volunteers. I pledged my support to him.

Quixotic? I don't think so. Iowans are famous for confounding the pundits. Dodd did a great job in the Dec. 13 debate, presenting the most specific and courageous energy policy (praised by former presidential candidates Al Gore and Bill Bradley), a clear vision of a tough, fair China policy and a vision for restoring America's moral standing in the world -- all with less allotted time than any candidate. The Iowa Independent declared him the winner. None of this surprises me given his outstanding Senate record. His achievements for children and families earned him the nickname "the Children's Senator."

Recently a volunteer for John Edwards challenged my wife: "You know he's not viable." I decline this invitation to waste my caucus vote by jumping on any bandwagon that gained its momentum from the national media's coverage of the frontrunners, and their resulting success in raising money for advertising...

I don't know that Chris Dodd's candidacy will fail. I hope and believe that enough Iowans will notice Dodd to give him some momentum in the remaining primaries. He would stand the best chance of winning the general election and would do the best job as President.

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