Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., sixth Democrat to file for president, is planning to come to the state during the Utah Democratic Party's organizing convention July 14, which will be held at Skyline High School. Dodd is the third of the Democratic contenders to visit the Beehive State, according to a news release from the party. The senator will speak to delegates immediately after another presidential candidate, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, addresses the convention.

"These are exciting times for Democrats in Utah," said chairman Wayne Holland, in reference to the joint visits from candidates for the convention and last month's fund-raiser for another Democratic candidate, John Edwards.

Dodd is currently polling near the bottom of Democratic presidential candidates, garnering only 1 percent support in a poll released this week by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. As a senator, he is credited with major legislation, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Help America Vote Act.

The convention speeches will be open to the public and are expected to start at about 10:30 a.m.

While Dodd is only coming for the convention, Richardson is also speaking the night before at the Democratic Party's annual fund-raiser, the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, which will be held at This is the Place Heritage Park, 2601 E. Sunnyside Ave. Although that speech was originally closed to the public — at least those that did not want to spend $65 to attend the dinner — party spokesman Bill Keshlear said that they will now allow people to attend just the speech for a smaller price.

For more information on the dinner or the convention, contact the Utah Democratic Party at 328-1212.