Washington (CNN) – Joe Biden praised Sen. Chris Dodd Friday, but conceded his good friend - one of the Senate's most vulnerable Democrats - is "getting the living hell beat of him."
The vice president made his comments at a fundraiser for Dodd Friday in Hartford, Connecticut. Dodd had been scheduled to accompany Biden at the fundraiser and at event earlier in the day to announce nearly $4 million in federal stimulus funding to replace an aging fire station in East Hartford, but stayed in the nation's capital to work on health care reform legislation and other Senate business.
The five-term senator, who's up for re-election next year and fighting for his political life, was replaced by wife Jackie Clegg Dodd.
The vice president heaped compliments on his fellow Democrat, calling him "the single most gifted legislator in Congress, now that Teddy Kennedy's gone."
Biden spoke of Dodd's dual roles for much of this year leading both the Senate Banking and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees at a time when financial reform and health care reform are among the most pressing matters facing Congress.
"Chris Dodd is the first United States senator that has simultaneously chaired two major committees in a moment of genuine national crisis," Biden said. "And had he got either of those jobs wrong, the consequences for America would be dire....
"Chris is getting the living hell beat out of him, the living bejesus beat out of him," said Biden. "Why? Because he's being a leader. This is going to be a hell of a race and it's an uphill race, but Chris Dodd will prevail."
In a sign of Dodd's sinking political fortunes, the Cook Political Report this week moved his race from "toss up" to "lean Republican."
Dodd saw his approval ratings plunge late last year and early this year, following last year's Wall Street and banking industry financial meltdown, Dodd's involvement in the AIG bonus controversy, and questions about mortgages he obtained from a VIP program.
Dodd's poll numbers inched up during the spring and summer after bottoming out earlier this year. But his approval rating slipped back again in a Quinnipiac University survey released last month. The poll also indicated that by 53 percent to 39 percent, Connecticut voters don't think Dodd deserves to be re-elected next year. According to the survey, Dodd is trailing his two potential Republican challengers in hypothetical 2010 general election matchups.
–Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @psteinhausercnn
From CNN Politics
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Dodd has his hands in the cookie jar for way to long , which brings coruption and now he's caught he needs to go, just for countrywide alone.
Hey Joe, wait until 2012. Then it'll be your turn.
but, he has sticky fingers..ala Fannie Mae, and home loans that would not be possible to many Americans..the state of Connecticut deserves better, and will vote their conscience this time around..
Bye Bye Dodd.
FIVE time draft dodger Biden, Jr has an IQ of about 90.
he begged not to be kicked out of law school for cheating and end up gettting drafted. he completed law school as number 76 out of 85.
Or in biden's words, "we are giving you $4million so vote for the crook dodd who stole more than that in taxpayer's money. dodd was too busy to go to his own fund raiser – he's in dc trying to rip taxpayers off for money on the government rationed health (no) plan.
I live in CT and the only way our state will start creating jobs is if one person gets laid off – Senator Dodd.
All you republicans know about hands in the cookie jar!!! We lived through it for 8 terrible years under Bush and Cheney. What hypocrits!
Gee imagine that someone so dishonest would be held accountable by their constituients. Pay attention politicians.
Let's get Peter Schiff to beat Dodd. Dodd is part of the problem with Washington
The democrats in Congress are spending TRILLIONS of dollars, eclipsing all the spending in the past 200 years. And they continue to spend more, sending ujs to certain financial ruin. Dodd deserves NOTHING....he is a crook, he caused this mess, and he has continued to stoke the fire. Next january cannot come fast enough for this gang of thieves in Congress.
Let's hope Dodd continues to lose.
That's good!
Why is it when a conservative questions any senator or representative, the liberal response is "Bush/Cheney"? What they did does not excuse Dodd or any other corrupt official from being held accountable. It's time to hold all of them, Republican or Democrat, responsible for what they do.
Because he's a CROOK!........which is probably why Biden sympathizes with him so much.
I'm confused, as to why ANY DEMOCRAT. . . would have ANY DIFFICULITIES !
Watching the REPUBLICAN SENATORS ON C-SPAN2, discussing HEALTHCARE REFORM---–would tell ANY AMERICAN ?
We need to keep this man in the Senate. There are too many bad ones that need to go first.
"the single most gifted legislator in Congress, now that Teddy Kennedy's gone."??? You mean this thieving criminal is the BEST the Democrats have??!! No wonder the country is going down the tubes at lightning speed.
Well, if Joker joe works the same magic he did in NJ and Virginia, then stick a fork in Dodd! Maybe he should invite Obama, Bill Clinton, Reid and Pelosi up to campaign and drive his numbers into the single digits???
Biden is a moron. He glosses over most of Dodd's history to come up with his astounding conclusions. Go back to la-la land Biden and leave reality for those of us outside the Beltway.
What will happen if the Republicans prevail in 2010? We might as well all give up. Poor economy, poor health care, rich get richer, poor get poorer. Does this sound familiar? Yep,,,,GW all over again!!!!
Dumb & Dumber.
Bye, Bye, Crook.
SHOW ME SOME ACTION BEFORE I'D BELIEVE A WORD! I did not think so! You folks got a case of the wealthy, self-serving with the corporate hacks, self-important Blues after so many years of wrecking our lives over Martinis!
Both of you have "been too long at the fair" (Bonnie Raitt). Remember when I met you in Seattle in 2006? I was not impressed then, nor am I impressed NOW, Mr. "Vice"-President! Credit Card companies and Banks! Now those you all remember! I will never vote for a Democrat again unless you all get your priorities fixed and help American citizens NOW! We are moving on to a 3rd Party Necessity, Boys. We see who you all represent out here and we are taking names and making a Change Soon!
Time for Dodd to go. Vot Him Out, put trusted people in place not liers.
I used to live in CT and met Dodd once. The guy is a moron and got his job via nepotism. With his unethical stuff with Countrywide Mortgage and everything else, he needs to become unemployed.
"Chris is getting the living hell beat out of him, the living bejesus beat out of him," said Biden. "Why? Because he's being a leader. "
Leading us to 10% unemployment and the housing market collapse.