In a boost for his campaign 37 days before the Iowa caucuses, Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., accepted an endorsement by the International Association of Fire Fighters at the American Legion Post 37, 225 Main St., on Friday.

The Fire Fighters for Dodd were also present at the event.

IAFF General President Harold A. Schaitberger, President of Iowa Professional Fire Fighters Jack Reed, and Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., have been announcing their support and traveling with Dodd all over Iowa this week. Dodd said he his extremely thankful for the support, as it secures a sizable voting bloc in Iowa.

“As long as I live, I’ll never forget what this decision means to me,” Dodd said.

Schaitberger said the IAFF picked Dodd over other presidential candidates because of Dodd’s authoring of the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.

“Chris Dodd has had our backs for 25 years, and each of you knows what that means,” Schaitberger said. “We’ve made our decision based on the track record of the senator. He is someone who has walked the walk.”

Kennedy also spoke in favor of Dodd. Kennedy said he supports Dodd because he worked across party lines to get support from “both Independents and Republicans” on many issues, in particular bills Dodd authored that would have taken support from both parties to pass, like the SAFER Act and the FMLA. Dodd’s past experience in the Senate was also mentioned.

“What the country needs is to be unanimous behind one issue,” Kennedy said. “And there has been a real effort in America to unite behind a common cause.”

Dodd spoke last, his speech highlighting why the support and participation of labor unions such as the IAFF is not only important to his campaign, but also to America in general.

“I thank you because you’ve picked the right guy to get the job done and get America back on track,” Dodd said. “[Because] all of these issues [facing us today] will be on the desk of the next president of the United States on January 23.”

The upcoming caucuses were also one of Dodd’s biggest talking points, as he admitted that he is “not the most well-known candidate or the most funded candidate” or a “household name” in the presidential races, but the bloc’s support goes a long way in solidifying votes.

“Believe me, if I get the vote that I think that I will get out of Iowa, I think I’ll be a household name in 24 hours,” he said. “And if I become the next president of the United States, then you’re all invited to spend a night in the White House.”

The hall was not filled, but support for Dodd came from likely – and unlikely – places.

“I came here because I wanted to support somebody. I think that it is important. I wanted to see the power that Iowa has,” said Ray Fisher, of Colorado Springs.