Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) gave a press conference today, announcing his decision not to run for re-election in 2010.
Dodd began by saying that “after 35 years of representing the people of Connecticut in the United States Congress, I will not be a candidate for re-election this November.”
He continued, expressing his “deepest gratitude to the wonderful people of Connecticut,” who have “honored me beyond words with your confidence.”
“There have been times,” said Dodd, “that my positions and actions have caused some of you to question that confidence. I regret that.”
He then acknowledged some of the reasons for his decision, which over
this past year have “insisted I take stock of my life.” These challenges, according to Dodd, include his sister’s death, Ted Kennedy’s death, Dodd’s own battle with cancer, as well as his central role in health care reform and financial reform.
Dodd said: “Together these challenges have given me pause to take stock and to ask the question that too few of us in elected public life ever do. ‘Why am I running?'”
I have been a CT senator for 30 years. I’m very proud of the job I’ve done and the results delivered, but none of us is irreplaceable, none of us are indispensable. And those who think otherwise are dangerous
He concluded: “In the long sweep of American history there are moments for each elected public official to step aside and let someone else step up. This is my moment to step aside.”
Full text of Dodd’s speech can be found here.
Here’s the video:
