Mark Pazniokas of the Hartford Courant has a long piece on Senator Dodd's campaign in Iowa and how he arrived here through a long career of public service.
At each stop, Dodd spends at least an hour, campaigning with an energy and a commitment not required since he first ran for Congress in 1974.
"If you are uncomfortable about doing this, you are in a lot of trouble," Dodd said on the ride to Pella, an old Dutch settlement about 40 miles southeast of Des Moines. "You can't fake it here."
Dodd is testing the proposition that a congressional record, foreign-policy expertise, Irish charm, one major union endorsement and tireless, retail politics can compete with the money and celebrity of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
Pazniokas also takes a serious look at how the International Association of Fire Fighters is working to help get Chris Dodd elected. Here's IAFF President Harold Schatiberger talking about how Iowa's fire fighters are going to help deliver the state to Dodd:
"What happens inside those caucuses between the first count and the second count, that's what I call something between sumo wrestling and full-contact politics," Schaitberger said. "It's not like going into a voting booth and pushing a lever."
The IAFF has a program that encourages each member to show up with 10 friends for Dodd. Schaitberger, who plans two more trips to Iowa in coming weeks, said his Iowa members have mastered the system.
"Firefighters are all alpha dogs. They are all very competitive," he said. "They'll pay attention to the rules. They'll understand the rules."
Praise doesn't just come from those who are already on board with the Dodd Squad. Iowa legislator Mark Davitt is impressed with Dodd's campaign style:
"He walked out with more pledge cards than I've seen signed before," Davitt said.
Davitt said Dodd's experience came across during a speech, then an hour of wide-ranging questions.
"He really knows what he is talking about on these issues, and people were moved by it," he said.
"As we approach the Iowa caucus, the coverage is picking up and we'll see more and more articles about the strength of the Dodd campaign's organization and the hard-work and commitment Chris Dodd has brought to this campaign. To wit, Pazniokas cites Dodd saying, "But you know, what was that wonderful line of Thomas Edison's carved on a bench where he lived? 'If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't, you're right.'"
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Speaking of articles about Dodd there is a great one on Politico.com. Its about how Dodd is scared of students coming back early to vote for Obama. "If you're from Hartford, Conn., and you're going to school at the University of Iowa, and you're paying out-of-state tuition, you're [unfairly] casting yourself as an Iowan," he said. That is the type of bullshit I expect from Republicans not dems. But Dodd has been connected to the establishment so long that there is probably very little difference. It is sad to see politicians discouraging people to vote but it is nothing new to America. When people vote the establishment looses. Young people don't vote anyway so I don't know what he is so concerned about... Oh thats right Obama isn't the ordinary presidential candidate. I guess Dodd is just scared shitless. For your sake I hope everything works out for you guys. I'm sure with all of the cunt liking Dodd has done to Clinton he could get a nice cabinet position and you can finally get that good job you have always wanted in D.C.