Danbury News Times, CT
10-23-07
Dodd moves family to Iowa
Peter Urban STAFF WRITER
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd is moving his family to Iowa in hopes of
elevating his chances in that state's early presidential contest.
Dodd, a Democrat, has rented a house in Des Moines through the Iowa
presidential caucuses that are expected to take place by mid-January.
He will live there with his wife, Jackie Clegg Dodd, and two daughters, Grace and
Christina. Six-year-old Grace has already been enrolled in kindergarten there.
"It shows a sign of commitment to the presidential race he is in," said Colleen
Flanagan, a spokesman for his campaign. "His constituents in Connecticut
understand that it is important to have a strong showing there."
Iowa's presidential caucus is considered a key battleground because it comes
just ahead of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary.
In 2004, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry's surprise victory in Iowa propelled him
to the Democratic nomination.
"Iowa is first. You have to have a strong showing there, which we are going to
have," Flanagan said.
James McCormick, chairman of Iowa State University's political science
department, said Monday that it is unusual for a presidential candidate to move
into the state.
"I assume he is betting that he can get out of the low single digits and this is that
mechanism to do it," he said.
Dodd has failed to garner support from more than 2 percent of Iowa's likely
Democratic caucus goers, according to monthly surveys taken by the American
Research Group.
"It is a very long road for him to go here to get into the top tier or even the strong
second tier," McCormick said, "so I don't know how pivotal this move will
ultimately be."
A September ARG poll of likely Democratic caucus goers showed New York Sen.
Hillary Clinton leading with 30 percent, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama with 24
percent, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards with 19 percent, New Mexico
Gov. Bill Richardson with 10 percent, and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden with 3
percent. Dodd and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich at 1 percent.
Although presidential candidates typically visit Iowa and New Hampshire dozens
of times, they rarely move in. Former Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri moved his
wife and children to Iowa in the summer of 1987. He campaigned in Iowa for 144
days and went on to win the caucus - but eventually lost the Democratic
nomination to then Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.
In 2004, Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman and his wife moved into an apartment
in New Hampshire, forgoing Iowa completely. He finished a distant fifth in New
Hampshire and soon dropped out of the race. Dan Gerstein, former spokesman
for Lieberman's 2004 presidential race, said that the gesture may not result in a
major momentum swing but it does convey to voters that the candidate is
serious.
"Senator Dodd is far back enough now in the polls that rumors of him dropping
out are out there. If he is serious about seeing this to the finish, then this is a
smart move. It puts those rumors to rest," Gerstein said.
Beyond the symbolism, Gerstein said that Dodd would gain more face time with
Iowa caucus goers.
Dodd has already campaigned 54 days in Iowa. Edwards has been there 73
days, Biden 71, Richardson 43 and Clinton 36, according to data compiled by
George Washington University.
Last week, Dodd had his brother Tom Dodd and sister Carolyn Dodd
campaigning in Iowa. He plans to be in the state much of this week.
Earlier this month, Dodd's campaign named Julie Andreeff Jensen as his Iowa
state director. She held that position for John Kerry in 2004.