With U.S. Senator Chris Dodd potentially facing his first fight for political survival in ages, and potential challengers swirling about, Dodd is in full battle-mode, with a full roadshow touring Connecticut, a “mundane” Twitter account trumpeting how much time he is spending in the Nutmeg State, and an op-ed in the Courant on the stimulus package – an obvious counter to a similar op-ed from former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons’ piece in The Day’s Sunday edition.

Despite Dodd’s full backpedal, the D.C.-based Politico had the skinny on Dodd’s changing tune.

The economy has changed over the past 18 months. But so has Dodd, ratcheting up his typically measured tones to a fiery brand of economic populism that has put him to the left of the Obama administration and even some of his Democratic colleagues in the House.

The Senator’s abrupt shift left comes just as the pressure has ratcheted up on Dodd – with dreadful Q Poll numbers, a litany of potential credible challengers, including Ambassador Tom Foley, Peter Schiff, State Sen. Sam Caligiuri, CNBC commentator Larry Kudlow, and Simmons.

Voter frustration with Dodd, which has been boiling over the VIP mortgage deals, hasn’t faded.  The revelations that Dodd’s Ireland cottage was purchased under highly suspicious circumstances won’t add warm fuzzy feelings for Dodd to the electorate, and neither will Dodd’s non-book, “Thirteen Days: How the Financial Crisis Changed the Politics of Washington”.  The non-book  goes on sale in June.

These actions make it clear that Senator Dodd, despite his efforts, is clearly on defense when it comes to re-election.  He knows that his history of absenteeism and neglect for Connecticut doesn’t wear well with voters, and he knows that the bulls eye is on his back now.