Protestors, supporters at Dodd event

Hartford (WTNH) - Even though he decided to stay in Washington to take part in the health care debate, protestors, along with a few supporters, gathered at an event in Hartford today for Sen. Chris Dodd.

"We show up wherever he is. He's got the vice president flying in here so he's selling access to the vice president in this building right now," said Bob MacGuffie, Right Principles.

Vice President Joe Biden still came to Connecticut to raise money for Dodd at the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford. There were a handful of Biden supporters in the crowd, as well as some Dodd supporters, but there were twice as many conservative protestors.

Also in attendance: a Democrat who is seeking Dodd's Senate seat.

"Senator Dodd is not electabale, as you can hear in the background, and I want to make certain that the Democratic Party holds this Senate seat and what that means is I'm the candidate," said Merrick Alpert.

While Alpert campaigned on one side of the street, the debate between the Dodd supporters and the conservatives centered on health care.

"The amount of money that's being spent on health care and the level of satisfaction that folks have got with it, I think we can do better," said Joe Calvo of Newington.

"I believe that Chris Dodd's objective is to have a nationalized health care in this country. It's going to cost us. We can't afford to do that," said MacGuffie.

Following the fundraising event in Hartford, Biden went across the river to the East Hartford Fire Department to tout the Recovery Act. The department's set to receive over $3 million in stimulus funds to re-vamp an aging firehouse.