Christopher Dodd

Andrew Cuomo will be among the people testifying at a congressional hearing tomorrow entitled "Paying for College: The Role of Private Student Lending," according to a statement from Senator Christopher Dodd's office.

In a media advisory about the hearing, Dodd's office said the Democratic senator from Connecticut would "focus on the growth of the private educational loan market and its impact on college accessibility and affordability, as well as the implications of private lending products and services on borrowers and their families."

Big shoes...  read more »

Chances are no one will remember anything from the lead-off Democratic debate.  read more »

A day after they ditched a planned FOX debate, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards will participate in a "virtual town hall" discussion this evening in the (presumably) more ideologically friendly confines of Air America radio.

The Big Three, along with Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and Dennis Kucinich, will engage in a conversation entirely dedicated to the subject of Iraq and co-hosted by MoveOn.Org. Air America will be streaming it live 7:00 p.m to 8:30 p.m. tonight.

Said newly minted radio mogul Mark Green in an email: "We expect an historic night in what promises to be a defining election."

--Jason Horowitz

Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd may not be able to brag about hosting any massive, sold-out McFundraisers like his competitors Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. But that's no reason to feel sorry for him -- at least not tonight. According to a source, the four-term senator will be dropping by singer-songwriter Paul Simon's Central Park West pad for a fund-raiser this evening. No word yet on whether Simon plans to break out his guitar. -- Lizzy Ratner

Barack Obama is getting ready to run, and said that the race "could be fun."

The New York Post handicaps the 2008 race, with Hillary Clinton at 3:1, Obama at 5:1 and Chris Dodd at "He jumped in last week. Did anyone notice?"

Mike Lupica of the Daily News writes, "Clinton would rather be photographed with soldiers than do anything for them."

The New Republic profiles John Edwards, the "accidental populist." [subscription]

"We have eliminated member items as they have been known to exist over the past number of years," said Eliot Spitzer.

Mike Bloomberg plans to cut real estate taxes, which is a departure from how he used a surplus last year to pay down future health care costs.

State pension funds were invested in a company connected to Joe Bruno.

Republican state Senate candidate Maureen O'Connell has union support.

The Times editors say the new comptroller should have "fearless independence," and financial expertise.

Congressional restrictions on lobbying doesn't include spouses of lawmakers.

The head of the police union stopped a break-in at his own house.

And Lower Manhattan residents have until March 30 to get free testing and clean-up of WTC dust from the EPA.

-- Azi Paybarah

Al Sharpton's spokeswoman just sent over this statement on today's announcement from Barack Obama:

"I am watching the race as it forms and though I certainly feel that Senator Obama, Senator Clinton, Senator Dodd, Senator Edwards and others each offer very unique and admirable attributes, many of us will judge the candidates based upon their policies, platforms, and track records, not based upon the media's obsession with distraction from the critical elements of their campaigns. My personal decision regarding 2008 will be determined only by the consideration of those in the race and what they stand for and aggressively crusade for."

-- Azi Paybarah

When it comes to the field of Democratic Presidential hopefuls, Chris Dodd has clearly decided that  read more »

When it comes to the field of Democratic Presidential hopefuls, Chris Dodd has clearly decided that  read more »

Jason Horowitz reports on the presidential dreams of Chris Dodd.

Lizzy Ratner and Azi report on the Berger Commission's recommendations for closing and merging New York hospitals and why they are - and aren't - a big deal.

Matthew Schuerman writes about the end of cheap rentals on the Far East Side of Manhattan.

Steve Kornacki explains why the negative effect of Nancy Pelosi's leadership machinations on the Democrats' external public relations is the least of her concerns.

Joe Conason says that the president's evolving language on Iraq doesn't reflect any significant change in his thinking.

-- Josh Benson

Pity poor John Bolton.   No, really.    read more »

Pity poor John Bolton.

No, really.  read more »

NPR ran a story yesterday asking Senate Democrats a simple question: do they regret their votes to authorize the invasion of Iraq.

Many say they do have regrets, including Chris Dodd, Diane Feinstein.

But Chuck is one of the few to defend his vote strongly: "I believe you have to fight a strong war on terrror, and that's what that vote symbolized to me."

And Hillary? Well, she's a very busy Senator.  read more »

"I really can't talk about this on the fly, it's too important," she says.