The Senate vote Tuesday to end production of F-22 fighter planes has generated a round of finger-pointing in Connecticut over who should have done more to save the program.

Republican Senate hopefuls Rob Simmons and Sam Caligiuri put out press releases attacking Sen. Christopher J. Dodd for failing to muster opposition to the amendment to the fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill (S 1390). Dodd voted against the amendment, proposed by Sens. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and John McCain, R-Ariz., and backed by the White House, because it would cost Connecticut jobs -- the state is home to the Pratt & Whitney, which builds the plane's engines.

In a press release, Dodd said he "has raised serious concerns about shutting down the production of the F-22 Raptor since Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates made the announcement earlier this year," adding that the decision will "harm our economy and industrial capability," and "place our national security at risk."

Simmons and Caligiuri said such protestations were not enough, taking a shot at one of Dodd's big selling points on the campaign trail -- that the state would lose his invaluable Senate seniority and clout should it opt to replace him.

Despite a heavy policy load that includes shepherding the Democrats' health care overhaul through the Senate, Connecticut Sen. Christopher J. Dodd somehow found time to conduct a good deal of fundraising over the past three months. The five-term incumbent announced Monday that he raised $1.2 million in the second quarter, besting his first quarter total of $1 million and leading all comers is what is expected to be a heavily contested 2010 race.

Campaign manager Jay Howser, however, underscored in a statement that "unlike so many of his competitors," Dodd's "fundraising took a back seat to his primary job: working for the people of Connecticut in the U.S. Senate" on issues like consumer protection, health care and the overhaul of the financial regulatory system.

Dodd's campaign boasted that the senator "received more individual donations from Connecticut than any other state," after coming under criticism when its first-quarter fundraising report revealed just five Connecticut residents donated. The campaign also counted 1,700 small-dollar donors who contributed $200 or less, but did not release details on how much money it raised from large donors or political action committees. Dodd raised more than 40 percent of his contributions from PACs in the first quarter, with finance industry, health care and labor committees leading the way.

Investor and financial commentator Peter Schiff confirmed Tuesday night that he is "potentially considering" a run for U.S. Senate in Connecticut.

Schiff, a frequent guest on CNBC and Fox News who predicted the current financial crisis several years ago, made a visit to Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart to hawk his book, "Crash Proof: How to Profit From the Coming Economic Collapse" But the interview quickly veered into politics, with Schiff launching into a critique of both the Bush and Obama administration's economic policies.

"Are you running for office?" Stewart finally asked.

Two Senate Democrats have joined a challenger for an open seat in forming a joint fundraising committee for 2010 with the help of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

All three are in competitive races in Senate Victory 2010 fund created May 28. The fund will benefit Sens. Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut and Michael Bennet of Colorado, and Missouri's Secretary of State, Robin Carnahan, who seeks the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Christopher S. Bond.

Such joint fundraising committees allow candidates to hold single events with contributors writing a single check for multiple candidates, who then split the proceeds with the national committee. But they also create accounting headaches because contribution limits from individuals still apply. For example, if a contributor has already given the maximum $2,400 per election to Dodd, any contribution to the joint committee must be divided among the others.

The race to take on Democratic Sen. Christopher J. Dodd in Connecticut is going to be a crowded affair, with three Republicans now in the mix. The latest to jump in is businessman and former Ambassador Tom Foley, who announced Wednesday in Stamford, Conn., that he would run for the GOP nomination.

Foley is looking to paint himself as "a Washington outsider and expert in business and economics," as he says on his new Web site. He was, however, a fundraiser for President George W. Bush, and was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Ireland in 2006. He promised supporters Wednesday afternoon that he would "bring fresh ideas, new energy, and real expertise to the problems we face in Connecticut and across the country.

His low profile and lack of political experience make him a virtual unknown in Connecticut, a disadvantage against his GOP opponents -- former Rep. Rob Simmons and state Sen. Sam Caliguiri. However, Foley's successful business forays, including stints at consulting firm McKinsey & Co. and Citicorp Venture Capital and now owner of several companies, make it likely he will be capable of self-funding.