Chris Dodd for President

The freedom to pursue a college education and be released from dependency on foreign fuels are two of Democratic presidential hopeful Christopher Dodd’s aspirations for the future of the United States.

And for his two little girls.

“I’m the only candidate that gets mail from the American Association of Retired Persons and diaper service,” said Dodd, 63, Friday evening at Muscatine Community College.

Dodd of Connecticut, is a senior Democratic leader in the United States Senate and known for bringing attention to children’s issues.

His daughter Grace, 5, was born two days after the Sept. 11, 2001 Terrorists Attacks on the United States East Coast.

He and his wife Jackie have another daughter, Christina, 2. Dodd said his daughters and future generations are on his mind as he considers the future of the economy and the environment.

“I want to see our country do better,” said Dodd. “A lot of people say our best days are behind us. I don’t believe that.” . . .

Democratic presidential candidate Chris Dodd on Thursday unveiled a plan to reduce the cost of college loans and provide free community college education to all Americans.

The Connecticut senator told an audience of around 40 at Des Moines Area Community College's Urban Campus that expanded access to higher education would strengthen the middle class, solidify the United States' position in the global economy and protect American democracy.

"The Constitution is a sophisticated document that requires an educated population to support it," he said.

Dodd's community college plan would provide a dollar-for-dollar match for tuition reduction offered by states, up to 50 percent.

Such an approach is essential as more Americans turn to community colleges for higher education needs in a climate of escalating costs, Dodd said. "Every indication is that if we don't do something soon, cost is going to become a barrier," he said. . . .

Democratic presidential candidate Chris Dodd said Tuesday that as president, he would use federal money to make obtaining a community college associate's degree tuition-free.

Dodd, a U.S. senator from Connecticut, said he would use federal money to match up to 50 percent of community college tuition that was paid for in state money.

"If an eighth-grade education was critical in the 19th century, and a high school education was critical for most of the 20th century, then I happen to believe a higher education is essential for this country in the 21st century," he told about 70 people at the Boone County Historical Center.

The proposal would cost the federal government a maximum of $54 billion over eight years, campaign aides said.

The proposal is part of the education plan he is to outline Thursday at Des Moines Area Community College.

Dodd's proposal would raise the money for a potentially free community college associate's degree by requiring banks that administer federal student loans to compete for federal government subsidies. Campaign aides said the strategy would reduce subsidies by $48 billion over eight years.

"I'm a great believer we ought to get rid of the subsidies for banks when it comes to student loans," Dodd said.

Dodd's appearance also brought impromptu entertainment from his daughters.

At one point during his speech, his daughter Christina, 2, leapt from the side of her mother, Jackie Clegg Dodd, to stand by her dad.

At his urging, she did an impromptu Irish step dance. "I didn't know I was going to get a side show here," Dodd said after the applause subsided. . . .

U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd sees the middle class as the foundation of the United States.

It’s the middle class, he said Tuesday evening in Fort Dodge, that builds the country, runs the Scout troops and holds its families together.

The Democrat from Connecticut plans to help middle class folks afford their health care and the educations of their children if he becomes president.

Speaking to about 40 people at the Fort Dodge Public Library, Dodd outlined his concept of a ‘‘universal health mart’’ to ensure that every American could go to the doctor.

He said the strategy calls for gradually enrolling everyone in the health care program now available to federal employees. Everyone, he said, would pay into the program and everyone would get benefits from it.

The candidate proposes to reward providers who develop preventive medicine programs that keep people out of hospitals.

Dodd said Tuesday he’d start implementing the program in January 2009 if he’s elected.

As a senator, he’s already moving to help people with their health care. He has just authored an amendment to a federal law that would give family members of wounded veterans six months of leave from work to care for that veteran. He said the amendment passed the Senate unanimously and awaits action by the House of Representatives.

The amendment is to the Family Medical Leave Act that he championed about 10 years ago. . . .

THE CANDIDATE: U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, a Democrat.

THE PLACE: The Iowa State Fair.

THE NEWS: Dodd didn’t plow much new policy ground during his first-ever visit to the Iowa State Fair. He marveled at the number of food offerings on a stick as he stood with his wife, Jackie, and their young daughters Christina and Grace.

Dodd reiterated his vow to make college more affordable if he’s elected president. He would offer federal Pell Grants, traditionally for low-income students, to middle-class students. And Dodd said he would offer matching grants to states with the goal of making community college tuition-free.

“In the Dodd administration, higher education will not be linked to the amount of money you have in your pocket,” Dodd told a small group who gathered to hear his fairgrounds remarks.

OTHER NEWS: Dodd is among several lesser-known hopefuls who are vying to get noticed by Democratic voters. He argues the race is far from settled.

“I don’t think the race has been decided,” Dodd said. “I think Iowans want to make up their own minds.”