Dodd To Face Democratic Challenger In 2010

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

(05-18) 09:05 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

Embattled Sen. Christopher Dodd is getting a Democratic challenger.

Connecticut businessman and former Air Force officer Merrick Alpert plans to launch a 2010 primary campaign against Dodd, who faces his toughest re-election in five terms. The official announcement is expected Tuesday.

Merrick said in a video on his Web site that many Democrats have lost faith with Dodd for becoming part of the "culture of corruption" in Washington.

Merrick was an advance man for former Vice President Al Gore, his Web site says.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Dodd's popularity has slipped amid the financial meltdown and in the wake of his failed 2008 presidential bid.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/05/18/national/w090257D09.DTL

[graywarrior]

1. Merrick's website

http://merrickforachange.ngphost.com/bio

[frazzled]

2. More pertinent: worked for Enron Energy Services and PG&E

Merrick Alpert is President of TGM and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of company operations.

Prior to joining TGM Merrick was Chairman of E-Ceptionist, Inc. an international medical software company which he co-founded in 1999 and sold to a Houston based investment group in 2005.

Merrick has broad energy industry experience.He worked for Enron Energy Services PG&E Energy Services and Smith Cogeneration.He also helped craft energy policy in Oklahoma as staff counsel to the Governor.He began his career as an attorney with Day Berry & Howard in Hartford Connecticut.

Merrick has also been active in public and military service.He served as a consultant to the 1992 Clinton-Gore Campaign and the 1993 Presidential Inaugural Committee.He served as Lead Advance for Vice President Al Gore on dozens of official domestic and foreign trips.He served in the United States Air Force Reserve as a Captain and was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for actions during a sixm

I think I'd stay with known-quantity Chris Dodd for the time being.

[brendan120678]

3. I'm planning on voting against all incumbents anyways...

So if Dodd looses in the primaries, at least I can still vote for a Democrat in the General Elections.

Of course, I see no way Dodd will even loose at all, even with all of the backlash against him here in the state.

[Iowa]

11. I think you're on to something...

Absent the rise of a viable third party, voting every incumbent out is probably the best defense against the career corporatist politicians that populate both parties.

[w4rma]

13. To vote in Enron corruption? Dumb. (nt)

[Donnachaidh]

14. most definitely

vote them ALL out. :thumbsup:

[Jim Lane]

18. So you plan to vote to oust Obama in 2012? (n/t)

[MessiahRp]

4. I would have hoped a progressive was the one making the run, not another Blue Dog in waiting

Ugh.

Rp

[dflprincess]

20. Perhaps a progressive will enter the race

and the corporatist vote will be divided between the other two giving the progressive a better chance.

[able1]

5. Good for democracy

The Dodd family doesn't exactly have the greatest reputation for high integrity anyhow.

[No Elephants]

7. I don't think what Dodd has been accused of is so terrible. A mortgage on good terms? A lot

of famous people get those without giving a singe thing in return. For one thing, it's a very good bet that Chris Dodd is not going to default. Obama got a good mortgage in Chicago. SOP. Doesn't mean there is corruption.

[No Elephants]

6. A guy who worked at Enron, accusing Dodd of being part of a culture of corruption? I think

he could win against Dodd, though. Lawyer, Military, handsome, great looking family, entreprener. Good combination.

I don't think the things Dodd has been accused of are so terrible, especially after all this time in the Senate. Still, I think people are just fed up.

I just don't want a Republican to win.

[4_TN_TITANS]

8. I say go for it...

Dodd has turned out to be just so much hot air when it comes to taking a stand against the financial sector.

[Ozymanithrax]

9. Is he a Blue Dog or a R.I.D.

R.I.D. (Republican in Disguise).

Over the years, here in California, we have had a number of Republicans run as democrats in order to throw an election their way by taking votes away from what would be a safe seat.

[ElboRuum]

10. Dodd may be...

...an archetypical politician, but this guy Merrick sounds little different.

[Mythsaje]

12. Maybe someone needs to promote a third choice challenger...

Someone who IS a progressive.

[defendandprotect]

16. Excactly . . . but that seems to be thinking outside the box in the Dem Party--!!!

[Mythsaje]

17. Well, as we all know, the Dem Party bosses don't like that kind of shit...

THEY want to be the ones who decide who get to stand up and get their names on the ballot box. Not US.

[defendandprotect]

15. So again, the Democrats offer a contender who is another threat from the RIGHT . . .!!!!

WTF??

Obviously, the Rahm Emmanuel filter to rid the Dems of liberals/progressives is still working?

[IndianaGreen]

19. We could use someone to challenge the useless Evan Bayh in Indiana

Our state party wouldn't even run a challenger against the senile and useless Dick Lugar.