Connecticut's Senior U.S. Senator Chris Dodd tells the Hartford Courant's David Lightman he plans to travel the country, raise money and hire staff in an effort to garner support for a presidential campaign.
Dodd won't formally decide whether to run until early next year.
Dodd, who is known as an outspoken advocate for partisan causes, came within one vote of being chosen Senate leader in 1994, and weeks later he became the Democratic National Committee's general chairman.
Dodd's chances, among a field of 10 wannabee Democratic candidates, are seen as a long shot. Dodd doesn't even register in presidential preference polls. He lacks name recognition and his $2 campaign fund is dwarfed by Hillary Clinton's $20 million and Kerry's $17 million.
According to Lightman Dodd will have to escape his tag as a liberal and overcome his New England roots. Americans for Democratic Action, which rates lawmakers on their liberalism, gave Dodd a perfect score last year:
Dodd said he was unworried how others define him. "I don't run away from who I am and what I stand for," he said. "Campaigns are always about the future."
After Dodd's 2004 re-election to a historic fifth term he declined to again seek the Senate minority leader's post and considered running for governor of Connecticut.
Is there any way Dodd can overcome the Hillary juggernaut?
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