Sen. Christopher Dodd received the official endorsement of the International Association of Firefighters in his race for the presidency Wednesday.

The IAFF's 280,000 members are across the nation.

Sen. Dodd Gets Firefighters' Backing

"Our great country has been without sound presidential leadership for too long. This time around experience matters," said a union leader Wednesday

The support of the union helped bolster John Kerry's campaign. However, some question whether it will boost Dodd's campaign, which has nowhere near the support that Kerrry had.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Susan Raff reported that firefighters' support can carry a lot of weight. The firefighters are usually active in their communities and have the manpower to do a lot of campaigning.

The latest Zogby poll shows that Dodd will need a lot more than the support of the IAFF is he is go be a serious contender for president.

The latest Zogby poll, taken earlier this month, shows Hillary Clinton with 30 percent, John Edwards with 23 percent and Christopher Dodd with a minus 1 percent.

University of Hartford political science professor Darryl McMiller said that Dodd has a long ways to go. She said that Dodd doesn't even register in some states.

"This will help, but will it put him over the top? That's a difficult question," McMiller said.

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