Wow they are dropping like flies today:

Embattled Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd (D) has scheduled a press conference at his home in Connecticut Wednesday at which he is expected to announce he will not seek re-election, according to sources familiar with his plans.

Dodd’s retirement comes after months of speculation about his political future, and amid faltering polling numbers and a growing sense among the Democratic establishment that he could not win a sixth term. It also comes less than 24 hours after Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) announced he would not seek re-election.

State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is widely expected to step into the void filled by Dodd and, at least at first blush, should drastically increase Democrats’ chances of holding the seat.

Dodd has been trailing the Republicans in recent polls, so this is actually good news. People are predicting that Blumenthal will have a much better chance.

UPDATE:

This tweet from PPP Polling explains why a Dodd retirement is great news for Democrats:

Our CT polling is confirming a Blumenthal/Dodd swap would make the seat uber safe for Dems

I got a feeling they have talked Blumenthal into running and figured this would be a great way to soften the blow of Dorgan retiring. The timing makes perfect sense.