Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) "has two big jobs. He is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president, and he chairs the Senate Banking Committee. They are proving to be a lucrative combination," the Washington Post reports.
"Among Democrats, Dodd's $5 million campaign nest egg is surpassed only by that of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), who has one of the most elaborate fundraising machines ever assembled. Dodd's electoral riches can be traced to the banking panel, whose jurisdiction includes some of the wealthiest industries in America -- banking, insurance and financial services. In addition, Dodd's home state is the hedge fund and insurance capital of the country. But it is Dodd's philosophy, not only his geography, that has made him a cash magnet."