July 8, 2009 Senator Dodd's uncertain political future Play video

(NECN: Brian Burnell, Greenwich, Conn.) - Two Democratic town committees have voted in favor of dumping incumbent Senator Chris Dodd. Three Republicans are declared candidates against him, and the least known may be the most formidable.

57-year-old Tom Foley is a successful businessman from Greenwich, Connecticut. He served as ambassador to Ireland for two years and was director of private sector development in Bahgdad for seven months. Foley is well known is Republican circles as a top fundraiser. He was one of the so-called Bush Pioneers who raised a lot of cash for George W. Bush. Now Foley himself is entering the political fray. He is running to unseat 30-year Democratic Senator Chris Dodd and he's off to a fast start. In the first 26 days if his candidacy he's doing what he does best. He's raised over half-a-million dollars.

Tom Foley, Greenwich CT: A lot of this money, frankly, was new money because many of the people who were most interested in this race were people who were very unhappy with Chris Dodd.

The past few months have not been kind to Dodd. His supposed special treatment by Countrywide Financial in securing two mortgages, questions about his purchase of a cottage in Ireland and questions about his actions as chair of the Senate banking Committee while accepting donations from big banks have driven his poll numbers to new lows. It is clear Foley will focus on those issues in the coming months.

Tom Foley, Greenwich CT:

I think the integrity issues are the ones that bother me the most. I think the citizens of Connecticut deserve a senator in Washington who is beyond any question. Any integrity issues, any issues of conflict including the appearance of conflict and I don't think that Senator Dodd has met that standard.

Brian Burnell, NECN: There are two things going on here as Foley raises money. Dodd does seem vulnerable to many Republicans. That leads them to donate. And a lot of people, he says, are upset with the Senator.

Tom Foley, Greenwich CT: I've been surprised at how palpably people are upset with Senator Dodd. Virtually everywhere I go people are mad. They feel betrayed and so that, I think, is a strong sentiment that people have that motivates them to give but I also think that people give to somebody who they have confidence in and who they think can win.

Foley first has to beat two fellow republicans, former congressman Rob Simmons and state senator Sam Caliguri, before he gets the nomination to take on Dodd.