ROCKY HILL, Conn. -- Hometown lawmaker Chris Dodd may have dropped out of the race for president last month, but his name could find its way back to the ticket.

U.S. Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., remain in a tight race in Connecticut, according to recent polls.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Irene O'Connor reported some political insiders have speculated that Obama, should he become the Democratic nominee, could choose Dodd as running mate.

About 16,000 people gathered at the XL Center in downtown Hartford on Monday night to see Obama, who was flanked by U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., Caroline Kennedy, and Conn. Reps. Rosa DeLauro, Chris Murphy and John Larson. Dodd was not on stage with the Connecticut delegation.

On Tuesday morning, O'Connor spoke via satellite with Obama, who was in Boston. He discussed a variety of issues from funding for the war in Iraq, to possible running mates.

"I have the highest regard for (Dodd) and I think he is going to have a great future and I would want his advice and counsel if I were president," Obama said.

When asked whether Dodd is on a short list of candidates for potential running mates, Obama said, "You are not going to pry this out of me. I'm a firm believer of not counting your chickens before they are hatched. So, my focus right now is trying to win the nomination."

Obama said he believes the economy is out of balance, where some people are doing very well and others are struggling. Overall, Connecticut is one of the most affluent states in the country, but its cities are among some of the poorest in the country.

"I think that we have to invest in infrastructure, we have to rebuild schools, hospitals, lay broadband lines," Obama said. "Schools are absolutely vital. So, (we have to) not only invest in early childhood, paying our teachers more, giving them more training and support, (but also) make college affordable for every young person."

Obama said that $4,000 college credit would be in exchange for community of national public service.

Also:

Channel 3 Eyewitness News also spoke with Sen. Hillary Clinton about her campaign. You can view Al Terzi's interview with the New York senator here.