I know you’ve been laying awake nights, wondering who Rep. Patrick Kennedy is going to endorse in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. (Okay, perhaps you’ve been laying awake nights, worrying that he’s going to drive his car into your living room, and then claim that he’s late for a vote.)

Well, Hillary, Obama, Edwards and Richardson can give up and go home. The winner of the Kennedy of Rhode Island primary is… Senator Chris Dodd.

U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy said last night he will endorse, raise money and work for the underdog campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination of Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd, a veteran senator who is also close to Kennedy’s father, Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.
“Chris Dodd has a breadth of experience in both the House and the Senate,” said Kennedy in an interview. Kennedy cited Dodd’s leadership on children’s education and health-care issues, his foreign policy expertise and service in the Peace Corps.
The Rhode Island Democrat also noted that Dodd, who speaks fluent Spanish, is bilingual. “He answered President Kennedy’s call to serve in the Peace Corps, in the Dominican Republic,” said Kennedy, whose uncle was President John F. Kennedy. “I think that being fluent in Spanish in this day and age is such a powerful asset that it cannot be overvalued.”

Indeed, it is beneficial to know Spanish today. (“Dos Coronas, por favor.”)

Somewhat seriously, Kennedy may be a useful fundraiser if he’s still got all those DCCC contacts. Between this, his Connecticut base, and his chairmanship, Dodd is likely to have significant funds to stay in the game a while.

Kennedy also mentions that his father, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, is not likely to endorse anyone for a while, now that Kerry is not running.