Chris Dodd is dropping his presidential bid.

[madinmaryland]

http://www.newstimes.com/latestnews/ci_7879078

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut abandoned his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday after a poor showing in Iowa's precinct caucuses.

"Tonight I am withdrawing from the presidential race but let me assure you, we are not ending this race with our heads hanging but with our heads held high," Dodd told about 100 supporters here.

"I am not going anywhere," he added, to loud cheers. "I will be fighting for the United States."

Some of Dodd's supporters wiped away tears as he spoke.

"I am very, very disappointed," said Eva Bunnell, from East Haddam, Conn., who came to Iowa to volunteer for Dodd. "If the people had the opportunity to get to know him and look at his record more closely, they would see he's a great man."

John Feller, from Des Moines said: "I am sad. Very sad."

..snip

[Virginia Dare]

1. That's too bad, he would have made a good President...

the problem is, we have too many good candidates. I guess that's a good problem to have?

[SharonRB]

2. Losing him and Biden from the race is very disappointing

but I guess it puts me firmly in the Edwards camp now.

I'm sure Dodd (and Biden) will continue to do wonderful things for our country and I hope they both wind up with cabinet posts or, in Dodd's case, as majority leader. We need to replace Reid with someone who has a spine.

[madinmaryland]

4. Biden dropped out also?

[SharonRB]

9. That's what I heard on the radio this morning.

[SharonAnn]

3. It's almost a shame that we had so many good candidates. I wish we

could vote for them all to be president.

However, after his appearances in Iowa and what I learned about him, I'll be supporting him with $$ in his Senate position. He's a good senator who supports the Constitution and represents the people of the United States. We need more of that.

[bunkerbuster1]

5. I really, really appreciate the work he's done.

He almost single handedly made the FISA immunity atrocity a national issue (if not a kitchen-table one)

Good guy. Great Senator, methinks. If I've got some spare change I'll try to help him in any future re-election bids.

[madokie]

6. Thats all right

he would have been a good President but last I checked we still need good Senators and he and Joe Biden too, actually, are good Democrats imo

[SharonRB]

11. You're absolutely right

Both of them will still do a good job either in the Senate or in a cabinet post. We need them wherever they wind up.

[madokie]

12. In my book every last one of our candidates would be welcome in the new Democratic Administration

even Gavel could be found a place.
In my 59 years I've never seen a stronger field of candidates on either side of the aisle

[SharonRB]

14. Me neither

We're about the same age, too. I'm 58.

[madokie]

15. I love birthdays

epecially my own ;-) huh

[NewJeffCT]

7. I'm glad he'll remain my senator - it helps to balance out Lieberman

almost.

[boston bean]

8. I like him alot, I wish he could have gained more support. He is a really

smart guy.

Sort of like Kerry.

[xultar]

10. SAD.

[G_Leo_Criley]

13. Thank You Chris Dodd! Onward to FISA filibuster!

Email from Chris Dodd ...

"Dear ,

I count the past year of campaigning for the presidency as one of the most rewarding in a career of public service.

Unfortunately, I am withdrawing from that campaign tonight.

But there is no reason to hang our heads this evening -- only the opportunity to look towards a continuation of the work we started last January: ending the Iraq War, restoring the Constitution, and putting a Democrat in the White House.

I know a lot of you came to this email list through a shared desire to return our nation to one that respects the rule of law, and I want to make one thing clear to all of you:

The fight to restore the Constitution and stop retroactive immunity does not end with my Presidential campaign. FISA will come back in a few weeks and my pledge to filibuster ANY bill that includes retroactive immunity remains operative.

You've been an invaluable ally in the battle, and I'll need you to stick by my side despite tonight's caucus results.

So, one more time, thank you for all of your efforts throughout the course of this entire Presidential campaign.

We made a real difference in shaping the debate, and we'll continue to do so in the coming days, weeks and years.

I'll never forget you, and what we've fought for, together, over the past year.

Chris Dodd"