Dodd: Money, celebrity will not win race

Dodd greets a supporter in Davenport, Iowa earlier this month.

(CNN)–Senator Christopher Dodd disagrees with the classification of presidential candidates in various tiers of competition for the party nomination. "Celebrity and money are not going to decide this race," the Democrat from Connecticut said. "And people I think take offense at it in these early primary and caucus states. They want to hear you, they want to see you."

Dodd made his comments Saturday to reporters in Salt Lake City, Utah, following his address to the Utah Democratic state convention. He took issue with a question on how he planned to compete with fellow candidates who have raised more money for their campaigns.

"The jury is still very out on this, and the question starting to be asked is who is prepared to be president, not just whether you are well known or have a larger war chest than someone else," he said. "As that question gets asked more and more, I feel more and more confident we can win these caucuses and primaries."

When asked if he had any reaction to the private comments between rivals Senator Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards discussing how to thin out the number of candidates participating in presidential debates, he offered, "I'd remind them the mic is always on."

– CNN Political Desk Editor Jamie Crawford