Evening roundup: Dodd continues courting the base, Democrats courting Udall

Chris Dodd has emerged as quite a surprise in the Democratic primary. I first mentioned his remarkable move to the Left at the beginning of September when he announced his support for lifting the embargo on Cuba. Dodd followed that up by leading on the issue of Iraq throughout September, being the first presidential candidate to announce he would oppose any bill that would not set firm deadline for withdrawal. Then came his promise to filibuster the FISA bill if the immunity for telephone companies is maintained. And today, Chris Dodd further satisfied the Democratic base by announcing he will oppose the confirmation of Attorney General Michael Mukasey.

Democrats are not fully opposing Mukasey. The nominee, after all, was recommended by Democrat Chuck Schumer as someone who would be acceptable to Democrats. But Mukasey's refusal to straight-forwardly rule out torture and waterboarding is not matching up with the picture of a law-abiding constitution-respecting Muckasey, so Dodd's latest move will make a lot of people happy. From Dodd's website:

Mr. Mukasey's position that the President does not have to heed the law disqualifies him from being the chief attorney for the United States. We have seen for too long, and at great expense to our national security, an Administration that has systematically attacked the rule of law and turned our Justice Department into a political wing of the White House. I'm afraid that Mr. Mukasey as Attorney General would be more of the same.

Dodd has been unablbe to get much traction from this, still registering at 1 or 2% in national and state polls. He is, however, fast rising in the hearts of the netroots -- he came in second in DailyKos's October straw poll (21% of 6000 individual voters), behind Edwards and in front of Obama.

• Will Democrats get Udall in New Mexico?

Democrats are still trying to convince Rep. Tom Udall to jump in the New Mexico Senate race. The Washington Post reports today on grassroots efforts to draft him in -- though there is no mention of any similar effort by the DSCC. The article leave open the possibility that Udall might be convinced to change his mind. Recruitment efforts have been mixed in the state for Dems since Domenici announced his retirement. The two most competitive Dems (Richardson and Udall) declined to run, leaving Albuquerque Mayor Chavez alone in the race. The only poll of the race out last month had Udall crushing Republicans Pearce and Wilson, but both Republicans beating Chavez. With progressives being very uncomfortable with Chavez's candidacy, Udall's entrance would immediately improve Democratic prospects in the race.