Dodd's popularity slips in Connecticut

The five-term Democrat's home-state popularity has slipped in the wake of his failed presidential bid and allegations he got cut-rate mortgages from a leading offender in the subprime mortgage meltdown.

The state's longest serving senator, who faces re-election in 2010, is scrambling to repair the damage. Dodd spent his July Fourth break from Congress at events stressing economic recovery themes, including jobs, the foreclosure crisis and costly gasoline prices.

"He has suffered a dip, there's no doubt about it," said Quinnipiac University Poll director Doug Schwartz. "He's been around a long time and he's only getting a lukewarm job approval."

The percentage of voters who disapprove of how Dodd is handling his job has risen six points since March to 34 percent, a July 1 Quinnipiac survey found. Dodd's approval rating has dropped nine points from last year to 51 percent. Slipping below 50 percent is often considered a red flag for incumbents.

While Dodd denies asking for or receiving any sweetheart mortgage deals, voters aren't too sure. Six in 10 voters said the allegations deserved more investigation, the Quinnipiac survey found.

"He's been a little too dismissive," said Gary Rose, a professor of politics at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn.

Fueling doubts was Dodd's admission he knew that Countrywide placed him in a VIP program in 2003 when he was getting the mortgages. Dodd said he didn't ask what the VIP program's benefits were.

Revelations that Dodd and Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., the Budget Committee chairman, got preferential mortgages through a "VIP" program for friends of former Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo were especially damaging for Dodd, who heads the Senate Banking Committee and is a leader pushing the housing rescue package through Congress.

The mortgage flap, too, has dulled speculation Dodd could be a potential running mate for presumed Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.