Chris Dodd for President

Dean Barker has a great write-up at Blue Hampshire of Senator Dodd's visit to New Hampshire this weekend and what makes him an appealing candidate across a broad spectrum of traits that people look for in a President. Barker writes:

Lots of press out today on Dodd's pairing up with Carol Shea-Porter on a day of action to end the war in Iraq.  For those interested, Matt Browner Hamlin has a write-up and video of the event at this diary. And to complete the first district firepower, former State House Minority Leader (and presumptive '06 congressional nominee, before a surprise loss to Shea-Porter) Jim Craig today endorsed Senator Dodd for President.

What I find fascinating is the contrast in Shea-Porter's and Craig's words of praise for Dodd.  To me (full disclosure: I'm a Dodd supporter), it speaks to the appeal he can have to a broad spectrum .

Rep. Shea-Porter praises his courage and leadership: "I'm standing next to a senator who has known all along what the direction should be and he knows the way out. And he has the courage to talk about it," she said. "A lot of people wouldn't drive within 100 miles of an event like this."

Yet what Craig likes about him is his ability to bring people together: "I'm looking for someone who has the experience and the integrity to work and reach across the aisle because that's the key. We've got to stop this partisan stuff... he's the guy who can do that."

Going beyond Dodd for a moment, I think these quotes are illustrative of a larger political truth that often gets forgotten among our poll-tested public servants: having the courage to take a strong stand on divisive issues, when you stand up for what's right and decent, paradoxically results in bringing people together. 

Today Senator Chris Dodd and Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter are coming together for a Day of Action to End the War in Iraq. The event will stream live from around 11:30 AM Eastern -- Dodd & Shea-Porter will speak at noon. Following the speeches, volunteers and activists will write letters, place calls, and send online petitions to President Bush calling for him to set a date certain for withdrawing our troops from Iraq.

You can take action online from home by signing our petition and sending a letter to President Bush.

Update:

It was a great event. Well over 120 people were overflowing out of the Dodd Action Center to hear Sen. Dodd and Rep. Shea-Porter speak about ending the war in Iraq now. As I write this, we have a large canvass going on around Manchester, as volunteers are talking to voters here about ending the war in Iraq and how Chris Dodd is leading on that critical fight. Thanks to everyone who came to call and canvass to end the war -- your actions are truly uplifting.

Today Senator Chris Dodd and Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter are coming together for a Day of Action to End the War in Iraq. Dodd and Shea-Porter will speak to the crowd and then people will send e-petitions, write letters, and make phone calls to end the war in Iraq. We'll be live streaming Dodd and Shea-Porter's speeches, as well as the activities in the Dodd Action Center. Stay tuned for the live stream, which will start at noon.

Before the event starts, you can take action online by signing our petition and sending a letter to President Bush. The text of the message reads:

We, the undersigned concerned citizens, on this 20th day of October, 2007, stand with United States Senator Chris Dodd and call on President Bush to immediately set a date certain for the withdrawal of all American combat troops from Iraq.

We're also encouraging people to contact New Hampshire Senators John Sununu and Judd Gregg. Please take the time to sign our petition and send the message to President Bush and his Republican colleagues from New Hampshire that it's time to End the War.

Here's a pic from Senator Dodd's meet and greet in Rochester, New Hampshire with Representative Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01).