Dodd touts his bipartisanship
By Viki Arias
10.18.07

Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut said Tuesday he has united citizens from different political parties for 26 years and said he is just the one to unite America as president.

 “I think it is going to be critically important to bring our country together as we start out in the 21st century,” Dodd, a Democrat, said at a press conference. “People are tired of the bitterness, tired of the bickering, tired of the fighting. What they want is leadership in this country that can once again speak with one voice of all Americans on issues we face together.”

Dodd, speaking on a sunny morning from the steps of the Capitol in Des Moines, touted the Family and Medical Leave Act, which he wrote and which became law in 1993. The law allows workers to take unpaid time off to cope with a medical emergency or with the birth or adoption of a child. He cited the law and others related to health care as examples of how he has brought the country together in the past.

As a member of the Senate, he said, his issues have united both houses of Congress.

“I was able to bring Democrats and Republicans to the table to enact major legislation that is important to our nation,” Dodd said. “I’ve said this over and over again all through Iowa the past number of months: No one party is going to solve these problems. It is going take leadership in the country that knows how to bring people together.”

Dodd also addressed recent poll results from Iowa that show him at the bottom, and he stressed the importance of campaigning in Iowa. According to Sunday’s Des Moines Register Iowa Poll, only 1 percent of likely Democratic caucus-goers support Dodd. Dodd said his goal is to sway the 11 percent of Democrats who say they are undecided.

He said he thinks there are so many undecided voters because several are still carefully considering their options­–meaning he has nothing to worry about.
The 1 percent doesn’t faze him, he said, adding that history shows poll numbers don’t mean anything until the results are final.

He noted that Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry lagged behind several candidates in the 2004 race but rallied to win the Iowa caucuses and become the Democratic nominee.

“I have a lot of confidence in the people of this state that they are carefully considering evaluating these candidacies,” Dodd said. “They are examining a lot of things. Not only who can win the election, which is terribly important obviously, but also if you win the election, can you really bring us together as a people again.”
Andrew Gack of Ankeny, one of those undecided voters, said he thinks Dodd makes a good point and shouldn’t be concerned.

“There is still a long way to go before the caucuses, and a lot of campaigning for the candidates to do,” Gack said. “I don’t think he should be worried yet because people don’t have to truly make up their mind until the minute they walk up to vote.”
Dodd went on to say Iowans are a big part of the group that wants a president who can unite the country, which is why he is working so hard to campaign here.

“There are some 90 days to go before Iowans gather on that cold winter night to decide who their choice is going to be,” Dodd said. “And Iowans have proven over the years that they have waited a while before making their final decisions.”