Sen. Chris Dodd has to fight for his re-election, and he knows it.

Bloomberg is reporting that Dodd spent a significant chunk of his re-election coffers on his failed presidential run, and he’s far behind his numbers (less than half) from a comparable time last cycle, according to Bloomberg (via CQ).

A recent e-mail obtained by The Daily Horse Race indicates John Kerry is sending a fundraising e-mail to supporters, calling him a “progressive” partner of Ted Kennedy’s over the past 20 years and touting past successes such as the Family Medical Leave Act. It’s not odd for fellow Democrats to send e-mails for other Democrats, but Dodd is no freshman, and he’s in a solidly Democratic state.

Dodd is also polling poorly. According to DailyKos/R2000 (3/23-29/09):

Dodd (D): 45
Simmons (R): 40

Incumbents under 50% are usually considered in trouble.

Probably as a result of that polling, Dodd has hired Jay Howser, a veteran campaign hand, who previously worked on Al Gore’s presidential campaign, and for Sen. Paul Wellstone, Rep. Brad Ellsworth, and Sen. Mary Landrieu–the last two of which needed a significant boost in order to win their respective races. The hire indicates Dodd knows very well that this is do right or go home; a veteran can stretch that money as far as possible.