HARTFORD COURANT: Rob Simmons vs. Sen. Chris Dodd in 2010? Well, with his nosedive in the polls after the Countrywide Mortgage scandal and his modified-limited-hangout response, Dodd is vulnerable.

Plus this: Not Too Soon To Speculate On 2010 U.S. Senate Race.

When Sen. Christopher Dodd temporarily released some of the long withheld records of his home mortgages – reporters could look at, but not copy them – he said he and his wife will re-refinance their mortgages from the failed Countrywide Financial Corp. “to insulate ourselves against an accusation that we’re trying to get some special deal.”

But even if Dodd manages to get his special, “VIP” mortgage deal behind him, he will still have to insulate himself from a much bigger money problem if he runs for a sixth term next year.

He will have to answer charges that the companies responsible for the nation’s economic collapse are the same companies that financed the senator’s political career.

Indeed.