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The general election in 2006 was the first sign that Americans voted with a "Throw the bums out" mentality. Republicans took a beating at the polls, as voters took their anger over the handling of Iraq out on Republican Congressmen and Senators. Two years later, a free falling economy gave Democrats an almost filibuster proof majority in the Senate. The American people resoundingly spoke with their wallets.

Expect more of the same anti-incumbent mentality in 2010, except this time the animus will not discriminate between parties. Any politician who supported the bailout of Wall Street and large insurance-banking conglomerates will face the wrath of the American people. One of the first tests of this theory will be the already troubled reelection campaign of Connecticut Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd.

Dodd's job approval rating among likely Connecticut voters is 49%. His favorable rating is at just 46%, with 45% viewing him unfavorably. The disparity between the Senator's job approval and favorable ratings stems from character issues that continue to plague Dodd and others who oversaw bank bailout legislation. Moreover, the poll numbers represent a 13-point drop in the favorable rating for Dodd since May of 2008. A 51 percent majority of likely Connecticut voters said they "definitely" or "probably" would not vote for him, with only 42 percent saying they would likely support him. Political pundits consider Dodd the most likely to lose an incumbent Senate seat.

Dodd is one of two U.S. Senators who received "V.I.P. loans" from Countrywide Financial through a preferential program that waived points, lender fees, and company borrowing rules for prominent people. Adding to Dodd's reelection dilemma is his role as Chairman of the Senate Banking committee. Dodd first denied-and then later admitted-that he inserted language into the economic stimulus bill that allowed AIG executives to keep their bonuses. The flip-flop of culpability disturbs Connecticut voters. Dodd's cozy relationship with financial giants like AIG makes their blood boil.

Former U.S. Representative Rob Simmons fares the best in a senatorial match up with Dodd. A poll conducted by Quinnipiac shows Simmons leading Dodd, 43% to 42%. The poll numbers that should worry the Dodd campaign are the ones that show Simmons beating Dodd among Independent voters by a whopping 17-point margin. Independent voters often mold the political landscape in Connecticut, as evident by former Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman's

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