Dodd behind 10 points in new poll

A new poll shows Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) trailing one possible Republican challenger by 10 points and polling within single digits of at least three others.

The early snapshot, taken by Rasmussen and revealed on Friday, suggests serious election trouble for the five-term Connecticut lawmaker. Dodd's most formidable GOP opponent, former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.), already leads the hypothetical match-up by double digits, nabbing 49 percent of likely voters to Dodd's 39 percent.

Dodd also trails Tom Foley, the former U.S. ambassador to Ireland, by about 3 points. But against state Sen. Sam Caligiuri and Euro Pacific Capital President Peter Schiff, Dodd maintains a 3 and 2 point lead, respectively. 

At least in Rasmussen's poll, the reason for Dodd's lagging popularity seems to be his connection with last year's banking crisis. Dodd heads up the Senate Banking Committee -- a post he recently decided to keep, despite the option of taking over the Senate's health committee.

As more voters begin to associate Dodd with the country's mortgage and banking woes, Dodd's favorability ratings are worsening, pollsters suggested. About 40 percent of poll voters viewed the senator positively, but almost 60 percent said the opposite. Those numbers, which Rasmussen said spelled trouble for any incumbent, are only made worse by the revelation that 39 percent now view Dodd as "very unfavorable."