CHRIS DODD UPDATE: “Sen. Chris Dodd has hired a rising political talent as his 2010 campaign manager as he faces his toughest re-election in years. Dodd hired Jay Howser, who led successful runs by Rep. Brad Ellsworth of Indiana and Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. . . . Dodd, a five-term senator, easily won his last run in 2004. But he’s been criticized for his role in legislation that led to the AIG bonus controversy. A Senate ethics panel is also investigating two mortgages Dodd received from Countrywide.”

And don’t forget that Irish “cottage” problem.