Dodd heckled at Bradley

Windsor Locks (WTNH) - Sen. Chris Dodd (D) returned home to Connecticut this afternoon following a historic vote this morning in the Senate that will reform health care.

Dodd is facing a tough re-election bid and at least one man at Bradley International Airport let him know just how tough it will be.

"You're not gonna get re-elected," the man said.
"Nice. Merry Christmas," Dodd responded.

But is Dodd concerned that this vote will hurt his chances at winning in 2010?

"Oh, I don't know, I find it somewhat amusing that people, every move you make has some sort of political calculation," he said.

And he stands by his vote.

"It changes the direction, it eliminates, if nothing else, fear that a lot of people feel. We have 350,000 people in this state who are uninsured," Dodd said.

This win was clearly bittersweet.

"Look, I'm an accidental participant, had it not been for the illness and death of Senator Kennedy, I'd been a vote on the bill and a vote on the committee," he said.

In fact, immediately after the vote, Dodd went to Arlington National Cemetery to Kennedy's grave. He says he knows the Massachusetts Democrat would've wanted more, the Senate version does not include a public option, but because he was a great legislator, Kennedy would've appreciated pushing it through. A sentiment News Channel 8 found among the public.

"I think it's probably gonna be pretty good because there's a lot of Americans who are not covered by health insurance so hopefully, it'll be good," said Lloyd Walters of Waterbury.

The last time the Senate voted on Christmas Eve was over 100 years ago.