DODDMENTUM. Heading up the line-up of Democratic presidential candidates slated to speak at today's Service Employees International Union Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., today, Senator Chris Dodd took the opportunity to highlight his labor-related achievements in his 26 years as an elected official and called for a renewed commitment to middle class America. "The middle class was built by a vibrant labor movement who believed that opportunity was not the right of the wealthy and privileged - it was the right of every single person who lived in this country," said Dodd. "The middle class was built by the blood, sweat and heart of workers who stood up and stood their ground fighting for employee rights, for higher standards, greater equality, and security in work and retirement."

The next president must undue the damage done to both unions and the middle class over the past seven years. In his speech, delivered more with more fiery zeal than I've seen from Dodd before, he promised a number of policies to help restore the middle class – investment in Head Start programs, paid family and medical leave, affordable and universal health care for all within four years, and guaranteed college education.

He also pledged his support for collective bargaining power and promised to have the so-called Kentucky River decisions overturned. These were a set of three decisions from the National Labor Relations Board last year that effectively redefined the role of "supervisor," limiting the number of workers who can join unions. Dodd pledged that a NLRB under his administration would throw out those decisions.

Most of his proposals drew thunderous applause from Monday's crowd, all dressed in purple and yellow SEIU shirts bearing slogans like "We make politics work" and "Patients before profits." He managed to come off not as a career politician, despite more than a quarter century in office, but rather a populist who understands where SEIU's members are coming from. "I'm the only candidate that gets mail from the AARP and a diaper service," he said, after telling a story about his two daughters, ages 2 and 6. An audible, "What?" sounded from the crowd, as well as a few giggles. "I heard all that snickering going on out there," the senator retorted. "There may be snow on the mountaintop, but …"

--Kate Sheppard