New Haven Independent

Dodd ended his presidential bid in a late-night speech late Thursday, after winning only one delegate out of a total 2,501 in the Democratic nominating contest here.

Barack Obama won the state — click here for full results.

In a speech before supporters in downtown Des Moines, he congratulated Obama and said, “this experience in Iowa has been one of the most rewarding in my life of public service.” Click on the play arrow to watch his full speech, courtesy of the Dodd campaign.

Connecticut supporters, freed to back other candidates, celebrated a final night in Iowa at the downtown Centro bar.

Pat Egan and Jim Kottage, president and vice president of the New Haven firefighter’s union, were two of hundreds of supporters who trekked to the prairies from Connecticut to support their senator. Egan and Kottage (pictured above at center left and center right, with firefighters from Kansas City and Vermont) spent three long days phone banking, attending campaign events, and working with local firefighters who are supporting Dodd.

Egan, who was making his first trip to Iowa, spent Thursday evening caucusing at a church in Dallas County. His impression of the Hawkeye state? “It’s a very cordial sense of politics,” in contrast to New Haven, he said.

Egan said he didn’t know whom the firefighters would back out of the remaining three candidates — he’d heed the direction of the International Association of Fire Fighters, which threw its endorsement to Dodd.

The IAFF’s general president, Harold Schaitberger, said he was “proud of Chris” despite the results. He said the association had not made a decision on whether to endorse a second Democratic candidate.

Dodd left the party after delivering his remarks. But just a block away from Dodd’s road-weary campaign bus, the Indy encountered this remarkable doppelgänger (who gave the Independent more face time than Dodd did over three days on the campaign trail, despite whining about being ignored by the press).

Michael Miller (pictured), a lawyer from New York City, came to Des Moines to work on John Edwards’ finance staff. He ended up finding himself walking in Chris Dodd’s snowshoes.

“Everyone keeps confusing me for him,” said Miller of Dodd. Before jetting off to an Edwards party, Miller said he respects Dodd immensely for his public service, including two years in the Peace Corps: “Chris Dodd is a fine American.”

Previous Iowa Dodd coverage:
Dodd Makes Closing Pitch
Can Firefights Rescue Dodd?
Dodd, Ignored, Picks A Happy Place