A Cushy Landing for Dodd?

Don’t feel too sorry for Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd, who will announce plans not to run for reelection in 2010: According to Marc Ambinder, the Obama administration communicated to Dodd that they thought his position was untenable—he never recovered from his association with Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo—and, as a reward for stepping down, “a sinecure or administration position is likely.” Meanwhile, although the right is jubilant over Dodd’s retirement, it actually makes the Democrats more likely to retain his seat in 2010, since popular state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal will run in his stead, and will likely help cancel out the retirement of North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan, whose seat will be difficult for the Dems to hold.