Take note:

In an effort to push back on recent retirement rumors, Sen. Chris Dodd’s (D-Conn.) campaign released their own polling memo today showing him tied or trailing two of the Republicans in the race. The memo, titled “Chris Dodd Can Win Next November,” only shows the vulnerable Democratic senator can win in an informed ballot test.

Just to clarify, Dodd is attempting to spin his own bad momentum by releasing an internal poll that shows him, when placed in a match-up against his most likely opponent*, Rob Simmons, trailing 51 percent to 46 percent. In most campaigns, this is pretty bad news. In Dodd’s world, it’s a sign that retirement talk is just premature.

“Chris Dodd Can Win Next November!” Yeah, yeah, and the New York Jets are technically not mathematically eliminated from the NFL postseason, but I’m not buying the playoff tickets, pal.

(You know, this reelection-as-NFL-playoffs-metaphor would have been a lot more fun before last Sunday.)

* No sooner do I type this than I see a poll out showing Linda McMahon ahead within the margin of error . . . of course, it’s a poll commissioned by the campaign of Linda McMahon.