Campaign Notebook: Dodd Leading on the Issues?

Members of the left-leaning blogosphere, populated by individuals with an interest in and an opinion about legislation and issues at the highest levels of government, are increasingly impressed with the leadership of second-tier presidential candidate Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut.

Dodd has worked with Sen. Pat Leahy of Vermont to restore habeas corpus, a constitutional right that  many say was adversely affected by the Military Commissions Act of 2006, going so far as to assert that by the language of the bill, if the president says you are an enemy combatant, then you are.

Currently, Dodd is threatening a filibuster of FISA, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, if it contains ex post facto immunity for telecom companies that assisted in illegal wiretapping activity at the Bush administration’s behest.  The presidential front-runners, Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, are following suit, and Dodd’s leadership is not going unnoticed.Can Dodd translate issue leadership into widespread political support and organization?  That question remains unanswered.  Dodd’s fund raising has lagged far behind Clinton’s, Obama’s, and that of former Sen. John Edwards.  On the other hand, the International Association of Fire Fighters has a knack for picking Democratic winners (they endorsed John Kerry early in 2004 and contributed to his surprise win in Iowa) and the IAFF has endorsed Dodd for 2008.  The DailyKos has been impressed, recently giving Dodd 2nd place in a 12,000-vote straw poll behind Edwards.

There may still be enough time for Dodd to build some quick momentum in the early states, perhaps targeting New Hampshire, a quick trip from his home base of Connecticut.