Citing Tough Political Climate, Dodd to Depart Senate

POLITICS -- January 6, 2010 at 2:24 PM EDT

Citing Tough Political Climate, Dodd to Depart Senate

Sen. Chris Dodd said outside his Connecticut home Wednesday that he won't seek a sixth Senate term, saying that his decision was partially based on him being in "the toughest political shape" of his career.

The Senate Banking Committee chairman had been trailing in polls behind former GOP Congressman Rob Simmons. His political clout began to waver after he was embroiled in a controversy amid the U.S. economic meltdown over low-rate VIP mortgages he received.

I spoke earlier with Washington Post reporter Chris Cillizza, who broke the story late Tuesday.

Here's a link to his blog, The Fix.

Listen to a discussion from Connecticut Public Radio on the longtime senator's career, his flagging popularity in his home state and what's next for the Senate seat.

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