It's Official - Dodd's Out

Image credit: ChrisDodd.com, reduced by Cujo359

Senator Christopher Dodd sent this e-mail to his supporters this evening. [Disclosure: I receive copies because I'd sent an e-mail to his site concerning this article.] This is the complete text, minus e-mail addresses:

From: Chris Dodd
To: cujo359
Subject: Tonight's Results
Date: Jan 3, 2008 8:25 PM

Dear Cujo359,

I count the past year of campaigning for the presidency as one of the most rewarding in a career of public service.

Unfortunately, I am withdrawing from that campaign tonight.

But there is no reason to hang our heads this evening -- only the opportunity to look towards a continuation of the work we started last January: ending the Iraq War, restoring the Constitution, and putting a Democrat in the White House.

I know a lot of you came to this email list through a shared desire to return our nation to one that respects the rule of law, and I want to make one thing clear to all of you:

The fight to restore the Constitution and stop retroactive immunity does not end with my Presidential campaign. FISA will come back in a few weeks and my pledge to filibuster ANY bill that includes retroactive immunity remains operative.

You've been an invaluable ally in the battle, and I'll need you to stick by my side despite tonight's caucus results.

So, one more time, thank you for all of your efforts throughout the course of this entire Presidential campaign.

We made a real difference in shaping the debate, and we'll continue to do so in the coming days, weeks and years.

I'll never forget you, and what we've fought for, together, over the past year.

Chris Dodd

[emphasis mine]

This confirms reports by Greg Sargent and the Associated Press, among others.

While he wasn't my first choice I respected Dodd as a candidate and as a politician. It's a measure of how silly our politics have become that a guy like Barack Obama could have garnered so many votes, while real centrist politicians like Dodd and Joe Biden got so few.

Thanks for the effort, Senator.

UPDATE: According to both the AP and CNN, Senator Joe Biden has announced that he has quit the race, also. Thanks to him, as well. He made the field better by being a part of it.

UPDATE 2: Contrary to some reports, Mike Gravel is not dropping out of the race.