Chris Dodd

Editor's Note: Chris Dodd dropped out of the presidential race after the Iowa caucus on Jan. 3.

Political Party: Democrat
Current Position: US Senator
State: Connecticut
Political Experience: US Congressman for Connecticut, 1975-1981; General Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1995-1997; US Senator, 1980-present; Chairman of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee; Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics; Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee of Education and Early Childhood Development

This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from Dodd's campaign web site, Dodd's Senate web site and the Boston Globe. Silver Chips Online posts this news summary to provide readers with a forum for discussion.

While all of the candidates are en route to Washington, at least one has roots here. Senator Chris Dodd attended Bethesda's Georgetown Preparatory School before serving in both the army and the Peace Corps, where he developed fluent Spanish. He then became a lawyer and spent three terms in the House of Representatives before settling in the Senate. Now in his fifth term as a Connecticut Senator, Dodd hopes his hefty resume will keep him afloat in the upcoming months of election season.

As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, headed by fellow Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, Dodd has been involved in all of the most significant foreign policy debates of the last two decades. Dodd opposes the war in Iraq and supports a one-year troop withdrawal timetable. In November 2007 Dodd was the only Democrat to vote against a bill to fund the Iraq war but require the start of troop withdrawal, because he thought that the bill did not do enough to end the war, according to the Boston Globe.

Dodd considers himself patriotic at home, too, and is proud of his pre-9/11 legislation to support the nation's first responders with upgraded equipment and tools. In return Dodd received a boost with an endorsement from the Fire Fighters Action Center.

Another passion of Dodd's is securing rights for children and families. With two young daughters, Dodd has expressed concern for children in today's world. As chair of the Subcommittee of Education and Early Childhood Development of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Dodd has worked on initiatives like expanding preschool and health care opportunities for all children. He was nicknamed the "Children's Senator" and formed the Children's Caucus in the Senate, according to his campaign web site.

Dodd is also concerned with civil liberties in regards to the electoral process. He authored the Help America Vote Act following the 2000 election problems, designed to strengthen voting rights for all Americans. The bill, according to his Senate web site, is considered alongside the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as the most important and historic legislation for voting rights.

One stance that sets Dodd apart in the primary election is his solution to the climate crisis. In July's YouTube debate, Dodd outlined his plan to institute a corporate carbon tax to punish big polluters to stop producing fossil fuels. According to the campaign web site, Al Gore has called Dodd's plan "very creative."