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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Ha ha. When they finish with Dodd, start whooping on Biden. He could use a good beatin'.
Another great move for Biden. And Hillary Clinton isn't Vice President why?
Could not happen to a more deserving guy. Lets hope the tax payers and voters continue to wake up and get the rest of these "redistributionists" out of office.
Dodd will be first to go then Joey boy. CT deserves better and will be better without both Chris and Joey. If CT Dems are smart, they better find someone good to primary against Dodd. CT Dems need to do to Dodd what Lamont did to Lieberman. We don't want a Republican getting that seat.
Amazing that you Repubs still have the gall to call anyone a crook especially someone who is actually trying to help the Average American out of the hole George Bush and the Republican congress put this country in over the last eight years. Never in the history of this country has so much corruption been allowed. Deregulation of everything under the Republicans have cost this country as well as the rest of the world everything.
It seems he deserves to really get the hell beat out of him with the poor decisions he has made which helped cause the housing crisis!!
All I've ever felt was thank you Dodd, but then I guess there is always the Party of "NO"
Time to start thinking of the people in CT was 4 years back, not the last few months before elections. He is the problem. He has been around too long. Time for a new leader with new and inovative ideas.
See ya Chris. Just retire.
It's time for a new era!!!
It couldn't happen to a more deserving guy!
Oh, yes, let's be sure to bring the conservatives back...they were so frugal...launching us into a stupid war, favoring the rich with their tax cuts, giving a break to every pharmaceutical house they could find, particularly Eli Lilly, wasting billions on Halliburton without seeking bids...oh, yes, they are so upstanding...bless their little money grabbing hearts. They'll start wars in a second but to help people with their health care...oh, that's just terrible....it's wasting money, However, it's just fine with them to let big pharma gouge the average joe. Besides, their attitude about deregulation turned out so well we had an economic meltdown. Fine money managers they were, these conservatives!!!
Politics knows none innocent.
Well – if the Democratic Senate weren't acting like idiots, then maybe they would not be on the endangered species list right now. It's time to get all of these career politicians out.
Cannot wait for our chance to get rid of Dodd come next November!
Move back to Iowa, or perhaps your 5 bedroom 'cottage' in Ireland
Yes, pay attention politicians. The only thing we're willing to do for Chris Dodd is show him where to sign up for unemployment benefits.
No surprise that Democrats are taking a beating now. Will they ever learn their lesson? In Thursday's omnibus spending bill passed in the House, nearly 4 BILLION DOLLARS are earmark (i.e. PORK) spending. So much for the promises of Democrats...
Go Schiff!
I'm one Democrat who never liked Chris Dodd. Knew from the get go he was not up to what was required to deal with the crooks on Wall Street. He let them walk all over the middle class, getting our money for free in the end. Then he was assigned the task of crafting the program to bail out Wall Street, and he screwed the middle class again. Now he's trying to repent by "working hard" on the health care legislation. Forget about it Chris. Let's get another Democrat in there to replace you. By the way, remember AIG? Remember how you shafted Hillary. What goes around comes around.
I do have to go with the recent Republican-led limit on term limits. What, 8 years, 12? I do not care about the number, but the principle. If Presidents are limited why not Senators, Congresspersons? It takes a while to learn the ropes and be useful, so I'd lean to longer-but there is a point where Coriolinus must step back from the bridge and go back to the farm, else we all lose confidence in the purity.
There are other jobs out there for them.
Dodd and Biden are two of a kind...........self serving pompous individuals who are on the gravy train until they are dumped, lose their bid for re-election etc........they can always go to work as lobbyists!!!!
I hope your ignorance about Sen. Chris Dodd brings you its vaunted bliss. It does little to advance knowledge or debate for anyone else.
Well, he can't get the poop beat out of him because his head is blocking the path.
This country is in big trouble! Out of control taxes! No jobs! A health care bill, that is going to be crazy drama! I mean if you have insurance, and pay a bi-weekly premiem, you have to pay more under the new health care bill! And, they won't tell us what we are paying for! I'am a 3 tour veteran of Iraq. And, in the near future will be going to Afganistan. I can't even get in to the V.A., without massive drama. And, the GREAT post 9/11 G.I. Bill what a joke! I applied for it at the end of June. The Government still has not approved me for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The V.A.'s recording is all lines are busy please call again! SINCE JUNE??? GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!
cgillette369, Cheney had 5 deferments also. Maybe that's a magic number for VPs.
It never ceases to amaze me how conservatives seem to forget that it was the Bush Administration's intransigence that got us into this financial mess. Pushing through the biggest tax cuts in history while starting two wars was not (and never will be) a sustainable economic policy. It was Republicans' recipe for disaster that got us into this mess. Let's allow Obama and the Democrats in Congress a chance to dig us out before we condemn them as "crooks" and "thieves." Name-calling is never productive and usually indicates ignorance on the name-callers part. This case is certainly no exception.