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| Obama Senate ally Dodd steps down | Obama Senate ally Dodd steps down |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| US Senator Chris Dodd, a key ally of President Barack Obama, has announced that he will not seek re-election in November. | US Senator Chris Dodd, a key ally of President Barack Obama, has announced that he will not seek re-election in November. |
| In a statement, Mr Obama thanked him for his service and said his leadership on Capitol Hill would be missed. | In a statement, Mr Obama thanked him for his service and said his leadership on Capitol Hill would be missed. |
| Mr Dodd's move follows the decision by fellow Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan not to stand again. | Mr Dodd's move follows the decision by fellow Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan not to stand again. |
| The Democrats have 60 Senate votes, just enough to overcome Republican efforts to block legislation. | The Democrats have 60 Senate votes, just enough to overcome Republican efforts to block legislation. |
| The balance of power could change after November's elections, when a third of the 100 Senate seats will be contested. | The balance of power could change after November's elections, when a third of the 100 Senate seats will be contested. |
| None of us is irreplaceable, none of us are indispensable - and those who think otherwise are dangerous Chris Dodd Obama's congressional battleground | None of us is irreplaceable, none of us are indispensable - and those who think otherwise are dangerous Chris Dodd Obama's congressional battleground |
| Voters will also elect all 435 members of the House of Representatives. | Voters will also elect all 435 members of the House of Representatives. |
| Senator Dodd, who chairs the Senate banking committee, made the announcement that he would not be seeking re-election for a sixth term outside his home in East Haddam, in the state of Connecticut. | Senator Dodd, who chairs the Senate banking committee, made the announcement that he would not be seeking re-election for a sixth term outside his home in East Haddam, in the state of Connecticut. |
| "I have been a Connecticut senator for 30 years. I'm very proud of the job I've done and the results delivered," Mr Dodd told reporters. | "I have been a Connecticut senator for 30 years. I'm very proud of the job I've done and the results delivered," Mr Dodd told reporters. |
| "But none of us is irreplaceable. None of us are indispensable. And those who think otherwise are dangerous," he added. | "But none of us is irreplaceable. None of us are indispensable. And those who think otherwise are dangerous," he added. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Embattled | Embattled |
| The 65-year-old Connecticut senator has been a key figure in efforts to deal with the financial crisis, and the healthcare debate. | The 65-year-old Connecticut senator has been a key figure in efforts to deal with the financial crisis, and the healthcare debate. |
| I just don't buy the line that after last year's election people are flooding back to the conservative cause Mark Mardell, North America Editor Blog: Defeatist Democrats? | |
| But Mr Dodd, a former presidential hopeful, has been increasingly embattled since 2008 amid criticisms over a loan he received from a subprime lender. | But Mr Dodd, a former presidential hopeful, has been increasingly embattled since 2008 amid criticisms over a loan he received from a subprime lender. |
| Opinion polls have suggested that he would not win re-election in November and Mr Dodd appeared to acknowledge this as he admitted he found himself in the "toughest political shape of my career". | Opinion polls have suggested that he would not win re-election in November and Mr Dodd appeared to acknowledge this as he admitted he found himself in the "toughest political shape of my career". |
| He said personal challenges, including battling with prostate cancer and the death of his sister over the past year, had also influenced his decision. | He said personal challenges, including battling with prostate cancer and the death of his sister over the past year, had also influenced his decision. |
| Correspondents say his decision to retire will allow the Democratic Party to field a stronger candidate. | Correspondents say his decision to retire will allow the Democratic Party to field a stronger candidate. |
| But Senator Dorgan's decision not to seek re-election in North Dakota is being seen as a big blow to the Democrats. | But Senator Dorgan's decision not to seek re-election in North Dakota is being seen as a big blow to the Democrats. |
| The Democrats, with the help of two independents, currently have a 60 to 40 seat majority in the Senate - the threshold number that allows them to override Republican attempts to hold up legislation. | The Democrats, with the help of two independents, currently have a 60 to 40 seat majority in the Senate - the threshold number that allows them to override Republican attempts to hold up legislation. |
| The party in power in the White House tends to lose congressional seats in mid-term elections. | The party in power in the White House tends to lose congressional seats in mid-term elections. |