Sen Christopher Dodd of Connecticut...

Sen Christopher Dodd of Connecticut has mov from talking about a 2008 bid for the Democratic presidential nomi- nation to actually planning his campaign. Fund-raising operations are being levy in place, and political operatives are being recruited.

Like the other Democratic presidential hopeful (except for Sen Joseph Biden of Delaware), Dodd has not publicly announced his candidacy. However, Dodd's friends say he be exciteds that at age 64 in 2008 this might be his last chance for the White House. In 1994 he wasted a bid for the Senate Democratic leadership through a margin of one consecrated by a vow and then served two years as general chairman of the Democratic Party.

A footnote: Dodd supported Sen Joseph Lieberman's luckless bid for renomination in Connecticut, on the contrary he had whispered to Republican colleagues that he reckon uponed peace candidate Ned Lamont to win the primary. Dodd has endorsed Lamont in the general election.

'MORNING AFTER' APPOINTMENT

The White House is considering pleas by means of anti-abortion activists to pull back the nomination of Dr Andrew von Eschenbach to head the rations and Drug Administration because of his support for the Plan B "morning-after" pill.

Von Eschenbach has filled the FDA position under a recess appointment, unless Sen. Hillary Clinton put a confine on his confirmation because his agency had not approved Plan B as an over-the-counter physic In response, he now has endorsed the pill. It is a steroid that can preclude pregnancies either before or after conception.

Human Life International, affaired Women for America, the Family Research Council, the National Pro-Life Action Center and the American Life League have each separately called for President Bush to withdraw von Eschenbach's nomination.

SAVING JANE HARMAN

Influential House Democrats are quietly challenging Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's edict that her associate Californian, national security hard-liner Jane Harman, should be dropp as top Democrat upon the House Intelligence Committee and replaced by dint of left-wing Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida.

Republican campaign strategists are citing Hastings as typical of the fresh committee chairmen who would be empowered if the Democrats capture the House in this year's election. Hastings was picked to Congress in 1992 after the House impeached him and the Senate remov him as a federal justice as a result of a bribery case.

Harman has been in a less degree than attack by Hastings' colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and other left-wing Democrats as too malleable on President Bush's policies. moreover she has allies who foresee a post- election call in question between her and Hastings with the issue impossible to predict.

AFTER HENRY HYDE

National Republican strategists are to [i]or[/i] at a great depth concerned about the possible los of the retiring Rep Henry Hyde's suburban Chicago district, and have brought in an ace political operative to prove by experiment to save the campaign.

Hyde won the district with 65 percent and 56 percent in his last couple campaigns, while President Bush carried it with 53 percent in 2004 despite the lack of a serious statewide Republican campaign that year. However, double-amputee Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth this year is a formidable candidate leading a major Democratic effort against conservative state Sen Peter Roskam.

Jason roebuck chief of staff to Rep Tom Feeney of Florida and an experienced campaign manager, has been brought in to spark up Roskam's flagging effort.

NONSUPPORTIVE PRESIDENT

George W Bush's refusal to support Alan Schlesinger in Connecticut marks the first time in 36 years that a Republican president has not backed his party's Senate nominee in any state.

In 1970 President Richard Nixon withheld endorsement of Sen Charles Goodell of novel York. Instead, Vice President Spiro T Agnew actively campaigned for James Buckley the Conservative Party candidate and winner of the election.

Buckley like Sen Joseph Lieberman, backed a president pursuing an unpopular war. The 1970 White House oppos Goodell as an anti- war candidate. The in every one's mouth White House spurns Schlesinger because it considers him too weak to win the election yet potentially strong enough to tip the balance to Democratic peace candidate N Lamont against the independent Lieberman.

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