Chris Dodd for President

Rochelle Schoenleber of Spokane, WA talks about why she supports Chris Dodd as a fire fighter and a mother.

Here's a new video from the International Association of Fire Fighters efforts in support of Chris Dodd in Iowa. In the video IAFF President Harold Schaitberger, IAFF member and State Senator Jeff Danielson, and many other fire fighters talk about why they support Chris Dodd for President and how the IAFF are working for a Dodd victory.

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.'"

Here's the latest video blog from the Fire Fighters for Dodd Bus Tour:

There is only one month left before the New Hampshire Presidential Primary on January 8, 2008.

Here are eight reasons to vote for Dodd in 08 on the 8th:

1) Ending the War in Iraq - Chris Dodd believes the time for giving President Bush blank checks is over and that we set a firm deadline tied to funding to begin safely redeploying U.S. combat troops out of Iraq, beginning immediately and completed within one year.

2) Restoring the Constitution - Chris Dodd will restore our Constitution on his first day during his first hour in the Oval Office. He would restore habeas corpus, close Guantanamo Bay, and require the US to live up to the Geneva Conventions.

3) Health Care - As President, Chris Dodd will offer high-quality universal health care to every American regardless of their job status, previous medical conditions or ability to pay. Dodd's plan ensures that all Americans will have quality, affordable health coverage by creating a health insurance marketplace called Universal HealthMart that is based on, and parallel to, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan. Insurance purchased in Universal HealthMart will follow individuals, not jobs ensuring that no one will lose their health care by changing jobs or moving to a different part of the country. Finally, the Dodd Health Care plan will phase in universal, affordable coverage to all Americans over the course of four years.

4) Global Warming - From a Corporate Carbon Tax that makes polluters pay to his call for historic fuel efficiency standards that break America's dependence on Middle East oil by 2015, Chris Dodd is the only candidate in the field with a plan to make America the world leader on climate change and bring energy costs down for families and businesses.